The world has been filled with SUVs and electric cars. The Honda Prelude is confirmation that Japan will be the salvation

It had been rumored but the most skeptical trembled. In recent years, we have seen the rebirth of Ford Puma and to Mitsubishi Eclipse (Cross). Cars like the Ford Explorer or the Opel Frontera have become SUVs. There is talk of a Opel Manta in electric and SUV formats. And, of course, the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Everything on the market seems to be: SUV, electric or electric SUV.

But Honda has given the surprise with its Honda PreludeThe Japanese company has presented a compact coupe, with the promise that it will be a car designed by and for “the pleasure of driving” and, of course, going through the toll of hybridisation on its arrival in Europe. All in all, this is good news.

A car that breaks with a numbed market

In one way or another, the car market has become standardised to unimaginable limits. Under pressure from politicians in Europe, manufacturers have spent the last few years spending money on developing new electric models. This has forced brands to join forces, share platforms and costs.

There are quite a few companies that have announced a point of no return with the electric car before the end of this decade. A point of no return for which, curiously, a return is beginning to be seen. Brands such as Mercedes are already beginning to backtrack on their plans.

At the same time, so that not everything was a loss, the market has been filled with SUVs. It is clear that this is what the public likes because it is a body type that continues to growAnd those who have wanted or needed to bet on maximum profitability have chosen to convert their product offering into an SUV catalogue, as is the case with Renault.

Not seem times for different carsdifferent, with more contained expected sales but which, however, offer a brand image that is difficult to quantify with money.

Honda, however, believes there is some room for this. The presentation of its Honda Prelude brings us before a car that the Japanese want to position as “a precursor to future models that embody Honda’s commitment to sports performance,” in the words of Car and Driver.

The company has not announced any details of this new model, other than that it will be a car that will be ready next year and that in Europe we will see it with a hybrid engine. “It perfectly combines the efficiency and environmental advantages of electrified driving with a Exciting experience behind the wheeland, allowing the user to abstract from their daily life and enjoy the experience even more. “a true driving pleasure,” the company says.

The truth is that the first words about the new model do not anticipate a radical vehicle, with performances that make any other sports car pale in comparison. It does not seem that we are looking at a new Nissan GT-R but a breath of fresh air is welcome, with a company that truly places the driver as the cornerstone around which the new coupé model must revolve.

Japanese, of course

Another reading that the announcement of this Honda Prelude leaves us is that the Japanese are being, by far, the most daring manufacturers in recent years.

In Europe, apart from the BMW 2 Series, the compact coupe format has completely disappeared. Last year we had to say goodbye to the Audi TT, which had been with us for almost three decades.

But we still get some good news from Japan. In Europe, for example, We can’t enjoy the Nissan GT-Rbut we can applaud the company’s decision to continue betting on the model.

Toyota, once held up as an example of boring and dull models, developed with Subaru the GT86 (now GR86) and the Subaru BRZwho mounted a boxer enginesomething strangely unusual in the market. The Toyota GR Yaris It is the last car that truly wants to bring the spirit of the World Rally Championship closer to the public and the Toyota Supra It was reborn with a very Japanese aesthetic and an engine of more than 300 HP.

And looking ahead we could have good news. Honda, as we said, anticipates that this Honda Prelude is the first touchstone in a market that slips through our fingers: that of the cars to enjoy. Not only sports cars, but also those designed for travelling and experiencing a real pleasure while driving.

The same thing happens with Mazda. The Japanese never stop stressing that they have a project in hand in which they want to combine the rotary engine with an electric battery to offer an electric car with extended autonomy that can be enjoyed on a winding road and, at the same time, not pollute in the city. Their Mazda Iconic SP gave us the latest signs of this project that, however, always seems to be delayed in time.

Either way, it certainly seems that if we are to hold on to a lifeline, if a different car arrives it will have to come from Japan.

Photos | Honda Prelude

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