The Return of a Legend: Honda Prelude Stuns at Super Street After Dark
Crowds gathered for a first look at the revived sixth-gen Prelude, marking one of the most talked-about moments of the Super Street After Dark event.
Recently, our second annual Super Street After Dark Lit by Sylvania rocked the warehouse section of Long Beach in a one-night event that brought out the style, trends, and culture that Super Street helped define for almost 30 years. Nearly 300 cars and thousands of enthusiasts packed a warehouse and adjacent loading lot; one of the key highlights was one of the first U.S. public debuts of the 2026 Honda Prelude, and it didn’t disappoint. The Prelude was also named Official Car of Super Street After Dark.
The Honda Prelude makes its return after being dormant for nearly 20 years. The last generation ended with the 2001 model. The new one draws on its legacy of speed combined with agility, and that is accomplished thanks to a 200-hp 2.0-liter I-4 hybrid powertrain. The 2+2 sedan enters the party at a $42,000 starting price tag, and a big highlight is the direct drive without a traditional transmission or CVT. The S+ Shift mode creates a torque dip that simulates an eight-speed automatic transmission and performs rev-match via paddle shifters.
Other highlights include Brembo front brakes, beefier rear brakes, revised front and rear track widths, and that trick dual-axis front suspension that keeps torque steer in check. Honda says the Prelude’s version gets its own tuning when compared to its Civic Type R sibling, leaning toward a smoother, grand touring feel without losing its sporty edge.
The car was well-received as it was parked front and center on the loading dock, flanked by fourth- and-fifth generation Preludes to show its lineage over the years. Super Street also brought Deven Hitchens in to sketch it, providing a neat element for fans to watch as he worked on canvas. The team was impressed by the Prelude’s sporty looks as it was unloaded from the transporter. Our first impression was it is going to be a fun track car, a point that one of my colleagues said is dead-on as they baselined its performance against the Porsche 718 Cayman in regard to handling and responsiveness. The comments from fans were overwhelming, with the same sentiment around its sporty looks and performance-driven specs. Be sure to check out MotorTrend’s extensive breakdown of the Prelude from its specs to overall impressions.
