The 2026 Honda Prelude will get the trick dual-axis front suspension from the Honda Civic Type R, along with most of that car's suspension design. That should make the new Prelude sharper and more fun than any Civic coupe Honda has built in decades.
Prelude Gets Loads Of CTR Parts
Prelude's list of Type R parts is extensive. Honda says the coupe will get the Type R's "suspension, wide front and rear tracks, and Brembo front brakes."
A key part of that is Honda's dual-axis front suspension. The new system debuted on the 2017 Type R, and this will be the first non-Type R to get it. The dual-axis strut combines the benefits of the MacPherson strut front suspension and a dual-wishbone set up.
Honda has an in-depth technical article if you want to get into the weeds, but if you only care about the benefits, we've got you. The innovative front suspension reduces steering offset, increases camber in corners, and allows more caster. All of these things deliver higher cornering limits and improve straight-line stability while reducing torque steer. The trade-off is that it's a bit more complicated and a bit more expensive, but if you care about handling, it's worth it.
The Type R suspension also pushes the tires further out, which is a performance enhancer that happens to make cars look lower and wider as well. The difference is big, with the Civic Type R's 64-inch front and 63.5-inch rear tracks making it 3.5 inches wider in the front and 1.9 at the back. Lastly, the Prelude will also come with adaptive shocks from the Type R. They'll be recalibrated for the different application, but should create a bigger gap between comfort and sport while improving the car's ride and handling balance in both.
Bigger Brakes And Added Driver Engagement
With the Type R's brakes, the Prelude will get 13.8-inch rotors in the front clamped by four-piston Brembo calipers. The rotors are a two-piece design, which reduces heat transfer into the hub and cuts weight from the system. They're also 2.7-inches larger in diameter than the standard Civic's meaning more stopping power and the ability to dissipate more heat.
Honda will tune the suspension and brake systems for the Prelude instead of using the Type R bits as-is. The Prelude is a hybrid, not just a turbo-four. It's also a coupe instead of a hatch, so the amount and the location of weight will be different between the cars.
The new 'Lude will use the Civic's hybrid system, but will add the automaker's new S+ Shift Technology. We haven't experienced the system yet, but it's described as being similar to Hyundai's N e-Shift system – simulated engine noises and gear changes intended to make the hybrid feel like an aggressively driven gas car when you want it to. With the Type R suspension, that should make the new Prelude more than a bit of fun.
What we still don't know is when the 2026 Prelude will arrive or how much it will cost. We're expecting it before the end of the year, though, with a price slightly higher than a Civic sedan hybrid.
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