A lot has been said about the new Honda Prelude, but whatever you may feel about the auto-only hybrid coupe, it’s apparently popular enough in Japan to get a special edition already. For the 2027 model year, Honda’s revived two-door is getting a limited edition – like, literally, that’s what it’s called. There are no mechanical or performance changes; Instead, the LE Prelude has a special dark red paint job with a matching color scheme inside.
That exterior color is called Premium Crystal Garnet Metallic, and it really does bring to mind a bottle of red wine, as does the appropriately named Bordeaux interior trim that finishes the lower center console, door card armrest, seat inserts, dash trim and cursive Prelude script in this purple-red color. The car also has red brake callipers and red steering wheel stitching to match.
It starts at Japanese Yen, equivalent to about $39,000 (a regular Prelude costs $43,195), which is about $800 more than the price of a standard Prelude there. Considering that automakers routinely charge hundreds for “not black, gray or white” paint, $800 for such a nice red color and that gorgeous interior seems more than reasonable.
really good sales
So far, it seems like every single car journalist I know, including myself, has participated in the new introduction, and the consensus is consistently mixed. We can all pretty much agree that the handling offered by the Type R-derived front end is superb, and most people enjoy the way it looks, but Honda’s asking price, its efficient-but-slow Civic hybrid powertrain, and (shockingly) the lack of a manual transmission are the usual negative talking points.
Despite this, initial Prelude sales in its home market of Japan have reportedly exceeded expectations 2,400 orders were placed last September (Mostly from older people) – Honda originally estimated 300 customers per month. Here in the US, the sales figure of 174 cars in the first month may seem modest, but Honda later told us it was a matter of too much inventory; Sales are really “right on target”, and “early feedback from our customers and dealers has also been incredibly positive.” As of May, 1,470 Preludes have been sold in the US.
Here in the states, the only non-shade colors available for this car are Boost Blue and Rally Red. They’re nice, but a little bright and juvenile compared to this Crystal Garnet. Get it here, Honda, and you might sell a few more Preludes than you planned on.
