Honda has found a very Honda way to explain the new Prelude e:HEV: it used the hybrid coupe to tow a real glider into the air.
The stunt marked the start of European deliveries for the sixth-generation Prelude, which returned after 25 years away as a hybrid sports coupe. Honda said the car’s “Unlimited Glide” idea came from project leader Tomoyuki Yamagami, whose childhood memories of flying a radio-controlled glider helped shape the new Prelude’s design brief.
That explains the slightly odd aviation theme. Instead of merely saying the car feels smooth, Honda attached a specially adapted tow hook to the Prelude and had it pull a glider for take-off. Subtle? Not really. Memorable? Absolutely.
The Prelude uses Honda’s e:HEV hybrid system, pairing a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a lightweight dual-motor automatic transmission. Output is rated at 184 PS, while Honda S+ Shift simulates quick gear changes for a more engaging feel.
Honda has also given the coupe adaptive dampers, Civic Type R-derived suspension technology and the latest version of Agile Handling Assist. The wide, low body and clean cabin layout continue the glider references, though thankfully without asking buyers to wear a pilot’s headset.
The new Prelude is still a niche proposition: a hybrid coupe in a market crowded with SUVs. But this glider stunt gives it a useful talking point. It tells people what Honda wants the car to feel like, without needing another solemn paragraph about driving purity.
