New Honda Prelude... concept....

[Badhobz]

what is this thing suppose to compete against?

FWD... sounds like a GTI / hot hatch competitor but its more expensive and less performant. Isnt it just gonna eat its own civic Si market share ? thats also 200hp fwd and priced between the hybrid and the CTR.

[Traum]

Originally Posted by Badhobz

what is this thing suppose to compete against?

At the end of the day, this Prelude is a 90% parts bin car, which means the development costs for Honda is pretty low. Low (engineering) effort, low cost, high margin. What is there not to like? (for Honda, that is)

IIRC Hondas have always commanded a premium over other Japanese cars. It was the very reason why my cheapa$$ dad bought Nissans and (rebadged) Mazdas instead.

200hp for the money is definitely on the low bang for the buck end of things, but the electric torque is supposed to be masking that deficiency fairly well at normal street speed.

For reasons that I cannot explain, I am oddly drawn to the car, even though I know it makes absolutely no logical sense. And I don't have the money nor the garage space for it anyway.

[supafamous]

Originally Posted by Badhobz

what is this thing suppose to compete against?

FWD... sounds like a GTI / hot hatch competitor but its more expensive and less performant. Isnt it just gonna eat its own civic Si market share ? thats also 200hp fwd and priced between the hybrid and the CTR.

I don't think it competes directly against anything in particular since there's barely any affordable coupes around. It's not supposed to be a sports car so the BRZ/Miata are not competitors and it's far more stylish than owning a Civic hatch or Elantra N and it's a lot cheaper than 230i or CLE. I'm not sure who the car really is for though - I like the idea of it (a budget GT that's fuel efficient but sporty-ish) but I'm not sure there's many customers for that kind of car.

Re: Price between the hybrid and CTR - that's kinda where it should be though as it's a mix of hybrid and CTR parts. You could argue that this is basically a hybrid CTR instead of a hybrid coupe.

FWIW, it should do 0-60 in the low 6s range so while it's only 200hp it's reasonably quick. I'd be really interested in how it performs in the next gen when the hybrid drivetrain gains a rear motor and probably another 20-30hp.

[AstulzerRZD]

TBH this is the kinda shit track people should want for a daily - fuel efficient but with great tire, brake, chassis.

BUT, I like sporty hybrids and EVs but I really think they missed the mark here.

No sportier shifting logic or whatever, it drives like a Civic.
No using EV to cut turbo lag like everyone else.
No using turbo AND motor together for regen like Porsche.
In Europe it is detuned to 180hp because of emissions, 8.2s 0-62.

If it must have batteries, it's really hard to make a case when the Mach E GT PP, Ioniq 5N, Lucid Air, or Taycan are sooooo good for the same 40k USD.

[headhunt3r]

I didn't believe you could find a used Lucid Air for $40k USD, so I looked. You can sorta find ones with an accident for around that, but the accident free ones are closer to $50k. Meanwhile, used in Canada are still going for $100k Canadian pesos.

[AstulzerRZD]

The prices went up after the EV credit went away.

Taycan RWD with close to 0 option is now solidly in high 30s low 40s but that interior will have Mitsubishi Mirage level plastics.