Although recognizing that an automatic transmission does not offer the same driving pleasure and sensations as a manual gearbox, Honda seems to have completely ruled out the availability of a version of the new Prelude of this kind. According to a specialized automotive website, the confirmation that the model will not have a third pedal in the future was given by a product manager of the Japanese brand, Horita Hidetomo, during this year’s Japan Mobility Show, and the reason is simple and technical: the hybrid engine in question is not compatible with a manual transmission – it cannot be said to be a surprise, now it is, so to speak, official.
It is worth noting that in the past, Honda has marketed hybrid models in conjunction with a manual gearbox, such as the CR-Z coupe or the aerodynamic Insight, but in the case of the new Prelude, the degree of electrification is much higher, preventing such a possibility. As a form of compensation, and even if this may not be enough to convince the most purist enthusiasts of the brand, the new generation of the Japanese coupe offers a system that, through paddles on the steering wheel, simulates gear shifts, including an automatic “rev-match” system and a simulated engine sound.
Everything indicates that Honda will make this technology, called S+ Shift, available in other hybrid models of its range, simulating an eight-speed transmission. However, the technology can be turned off, so the paddles on the steering wheel then serve to adjust the intensity of energy regeneration during deceleration. Still, aside from the technical limitation, Hidetomo also acknowledged that, at the current moment in the market, an automatic transmission is the solution that makes the most sense for the Prelude.
