The Honda Prelude was a front wheel drive, I4-engined coupe that was manufactured by Honda between 1978 and 2001. It comprised five generations of cars and was discontinued when the fourth-generation Honda Integra was released in Japan in late 2001, due to diminishing sales and popularity. The Prelude's chief competitor was the Toyota Celica, another I4-powered coupe that had been released several years before. Through the 1980s, it was locked in a rivalry with the Nissan Silvia, Isuzu Impulse, Mitsubishi FTO, Mitsubishi Cordia (later the Eclipse), and the Mazda MX-6.
In 1991, the fourth generation Prelude received a significant revamp and was introduced outside of Japan in 1992. The car had a 58% front and 42% rear weight distribution. It was equipped with an electronically-controlled four wheel steering system, and its engine was enlarged from 2.1 L to 2.2 L for the base 'S' model (SOHC F22A1 engine, 135 hp (101 kW) @ 5200rpm, 142 ft·lbf (193 N·m) @ 4000rpm) and 'VTEC' model (DOHC VTEC H22A1, 190 hp (143 kW) @ 6800rpm, 158 ft·lbf (212 N·m) @ 5500rpm), though a less performance-oriented 2.3 L engine was used for the 'Si' model (DOHC H23A1, 160 hp (115 kW) @ 5800 rpm, 156 ft·lbf (212 N·m) @ 5300 rpm). There was also a UK 2.0i version, with a power of around 125 bhp (93 kW). The 'Si-VTEC' badge was used up to 1993, after which it was shortened to 'VTEC' for the remainder of the generation.
The fourth generation Prelude didn't feature the pop-up headlights or other design elements seen in prior generations. Its rear end was higher, wider, and rounder than before, while the front fascia was wider with fixed headlights. The glass sunroof was substituted for a steel sliding roof that extended outwards, setting up a spoiler-like structure to reduce air noise.
The interior of this generation was seen as one of its most significant features, with the dashboard stretching from left to right and hosting all dials and indicators. There was a light blue backlighting, and later models (1994 onwards) featured translucent speedometer and tachometer needles. Certain features, such as power folding and heated side mirrors or rear windscreen wipers, only appeared in the Japanese and Canadian versions of the Prelude.
In the UK, the Prelude was never a particularly popular choice for sports car enthusiasts who preferred the Toyota MR-2 and other more renowned options. This could partially be attributed to its reportedly cramped interior, but it may also have been overshadowed by other notable performance Hondas including the Civic Type-R, NSX and S2000. Nevertheless, the Prelude fills an important niche in terms of style, speed and build quality, and it has become something of a cult-classic in the UK and US among those searching for a sportier, manual transmission-equipped setup.
Check out our amazing collection of '94 Honda Prelude VTEC posters, mouse pads, t-shirts, and calendars! Hurry and get your hands on these unique and stylish items before they're gone!
