Honda’s Next-Gen Enthusiast Cars Aim to Deliver Affordable Fun and Performance

Tokyo’s premier auto show is near, and Honda is taking advantage of the limelight to prove it can still make fun and affordable cars. To do so, it will reveal a series of new, near-production-ready concepts.

But they’re not just any concepts. Rather, they’re production models featuring upgrades from the motorsports division, Honda Racing Corporation. It’s all in a bid for Honda to remind the world of its reputation for making fun and affordable cars for enthusiasts.

Is it enough to revamp Honda’s image while maintaining its eco-friendly aspirations? Only time will tell.

Passing down Prelude tech

Honda

One of the biggest highlights to come from Honda’s booth at the Tokyo Auto Salon involves the Civic. According to Honda’s press release, the company previewed some notable drivetrain upgrades, which pass some of the Prelude’s latest tech to the Civic.

The most significant is Prelude’s S+ Shift system. When the Prelude debuted, it also launched Honda’s latest S+ Shift drivetrain tech.

It essentially describes Honda’s new CVT transmission programming. The system enables the Civic’s and Prelude’s continuously variable transmissions to behave more like a conventional automatic with stepped gears.

Honda

Honda introduced the system with hopes of making its CVT-equipped models more fun to drive, since CVTs are often perceived as the anti-thesis of driving enthusiasm. With the simulated stepped gearing, S+ Shift makes the Prelude and new Civic hybrid perform as if it had a conventional automatic with a fixed set of forward ratios.

Honda

Both models utilize the same gas-electric hybrid powertrain with a CVT, but in differing states of tune. With the Civic adopting the Prelude’s S+ Shift, that makes it the second production Honda model to gain the tech.

A new sportier Civic Hybrid variant on deck

Honda

In addition to the drivetrain update, Honda is also rebranding its Civic Hybrid in Japan as the “e:HEV.” And there’s also a new, sportier RS version that will take a bow during Honda’s press conference.

Details are sparse. However, Honda describes it as a “sportier grade of the Civic e:HEV,” and one that incorporates some of the Prelude’s latest features.

Honda

From that, it sounds like the e:HEV RS can be paralleled to basically being an Si variant to the regular standard Civic Hybrid on our shores. But thankfully, we still get the conventional gas-powered and manual-only Si here in the States.

Could the Civic e:HEV RS spell the end of that model? We hope not. But given Honda’s overall strategic trajectory and with the Prelude, it doesn’t seem all too unlikely.

Honda said a spicier Prelude isn’t happening, but what’s this HRC Concept?

Honda

When Honda held its Prelude media drive a couple of months back, several automotive outlets learned that an even spicier model isn’t on the planning board.

But in a rather interesting countermove to that claim, the Japanese carmaker is readying the Prelude HRC Concept. In Honda’s words, it’s not so much a sportier model, but rather a showcase of Honda Racing Corporation’s new line of genuine accessories.

Honda

The accessories will launch later in the year as a way for owners to customize their Preludes from the factory, in a pursuit to emphasize the model’s “joy of driving” ethos.

Honda didn’t say what the line of accessories includes. However, we imagine it will include upgradable interior and exterior trim bits, wheels, and maybe even suspension or brake components.

We won’t know for another few days until Honda holds its press conference on January 9. So until then, stay tuned.

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