By Steve Laser
An amazing thing happened the other day. I wrote a story about the new Honda Prelude going on sale in Japan, featuring Genuine Accessories by Honda Access. A week later, I had a chance to see a U.S. market version of the Prelude during an unexpected encounter in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. – and it was dressed with some of the same accessories!
I walked my dogs at a local park, put them in my car, and started to drive home, when a car caught my attention. Could it be the new Prelude? YES, IT IS! It was sitting in the public lot, with no sign of a driver or passengers. I had the chance to take a closer look – and, of course, make some photos.
This video, from the CarNichiWa.com YouTube channel, highlights the 2026 Honda Prelude with Accessories that was spotted in a public parking lot in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
The Prelude is expected to go on sale in the U.S. in “late fall.” It’s now the middle of September, so this car must be an early build, or perhaps a pre-production prototype. It was wearing a “DST” license plate, which stands for “Distributor,” meaning the car belongs to Honda (not a dealer).
So how does the new Prelude look? One word comes to mind: FANTASTIC! This is likely to become a popular new choice for Honda enthusiasts. I was lucky that no other cars were parked close to the Prelude, so I was able to take photos from different angles.
The front is nicely finished with slim headlights, a narrow grille, a black Honda H-mark logo, and a sporty lower front fascia. Under the hood (sorry, no photos) is Honda’s e:HEV two-motor hybrid system, evolved from the Civic, including a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle gas engine, reportedly rated at 200 combined horsepower.
Initial specs indicate that U.S. market Preludes will wear 19-inch black alloy wheels. This car was fitted with what appear to be accessory wheels from Honda Access, with machined clear and Berlina Black finish. They were wrapped with Continental® ExtremeContact™ Sport 02 tires, size 235/40ZR19. I also spotted the blue front brake calipers, wearing Brembo® and Prelude logos.
Prelude looks like a sporty coupe, yet it’s actually a hatchback. I noticed the black outside mirror covers, yet another Honda accessory. I also saw the standard flush door handles, and driver-side fuel filler door. Prelude is a self-charging hybrid, so there’s no need to plug it in.
If there’s one accessory that really makes a lasting impression, it’s the rear spoiler. This appears to be the same Berlina Black spoiler offered by Honda Access for the new Prelude “Sports Style” in Japan.
The Prelude’s interior looks great, with its sporty two-tone ambience. This was a left-hand-drive Prelude, obviously intended for the U.S. market. I spotted paddle shifters on the steering wheel, along with the new S+ Shift button on the center console.
Moving to the passenger side, I noticed the new 9.0-inch center touchscreen. Prelude is said to offer wireless Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®, along with Google built-in, including Google Maps™, Google Assistant™, and Google Play™.
With its all-new sporty styling, high-tech features, and available accessories, it won’t be long before the sixth-generation Prelude becomes a common site on the street. Yet I’ll always remember my first look at the new Honda Prelude in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Note: The Honda Prelude featured in this story was spotted during a chance encounter in a public parking lot.
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