Ever since Honda revived the Prelude, enthusiasts have been pleading for a manual gearbox. However, any remaining hope for a third pedal has now completely vanished. A senior company official confirmed at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show that there are no plans for a manual, citing incompatibility with the hybrid powertrain. While we saw that coming from a mile away, it's still sad to hear.
Speaking with Australia's Drive magazine, Honda’s Large Product Lead Horita Hidetomo explained that the company couldn’t make a manual work with the Prelude’s hybrid setup. While it was technically feasible for the CR-Z and even the Insight, that’s no longer the case given the Prelude’s higher level of electrification.
'The engine [in Insight and CR-Z] was the main one [reason why the manual was available], the hybrid assist function was there. Now the electricity and the engine is nearly half and half today, that’s the new technology we offer right now.'
Honda knew from the very beginning that offering the Prelude only with an automatic transmission risked making "the driving itself not very enjoyable," which is why the car has been engineered with an S+ Shift drive mode. Alloy shift paddles behind the steering wheel allow the driver to cycle through simulated gears, complete with virtual rev-matched downshifts and artificial sound through the speakers to mimic the experience of a traditional manual.
The S+ Shift function won’t remain exclusive to the Prelude, as Honda plans to implement similar artificial gear changes in other hybrids. It simulates an eight-speed transmission, and when the feature is turned off, the paddles can be used to adjust regenerative braking levels instead.
The decision to skip a manual gearbox goes beyond mechanical limitations. Hidetomo argued that most drivers don’t want to shift gears anymore: “[It is automatic because] it satisfies the needs of today.” While that may be true, the Prelude feels like one of those cars that should have a clutch pedal. Then again, it’s unclear how high the take rate would actually be, so the S+ Shift system may be the best compromise.
Despite initial skepticism that the car wouldn’t sell, the Prelude is off to a strong start in Japan. Honda has already received eight times more orders than its monthly sales target, ahead of the car’s launch in the United States, Europe, and other markets. To shorten wait times, production is already being ramped up. Time will tell whether this early momentum will last or fade as initial enthusiasm cools.
New Honda Prelude (Euro spec)
