- Honda Prelude sold only 174 units in its first full month in the US.
- Expectations for new Prelude sales are higher than some anticipated.
- Dealer pricing and strategy could shape the coupe’s next chapter.
Deliveries of the new Honda Prelude have officially begun in the States, marking the return of a nameplate that has stirred more debate than most. Despite the buzz, the launch has been modest. Just 174 units were sold across the country in the model’s first full month on sale.
Now, the company has shared its initial sales expectations for the revived coupe, and if all goes according to plan, the Prelude could even edge out the Subaru BRZ.
How Many Preludes Are Coming To America?
During a Honda and Acura press briefing, Lance Woelfer, the group’s vice president of automobile sales, said the company is aiming for 300 Prelude sales per month. He noted that around 4,000 units have been allocated to the US annually, though that number could potentially rise if demand for the sporty new coupe proves stronger than expected.
Read: Only 174 People Bought Honda’s New Prelude In Its First Full Month
Obviously, a niche vehicle like the Prelude was never going to sell in huge numbers, but if Honda hits its targets, it would be roughly on par with some of the competition. For example, Subaru sold 2,882 BRZs locally last year, which is almost $10,000 cheaper than the Prelude.
In terms of price, but certainly not performance, the 400 hp Nissan Z is a compelling two-door Japanese alternative to the Prelude. It starts at $42,970, just $970 more than the Honda, and last year, 5,487 examples were sold. This allowed it to easily beat out the pricier Toyota Supra, which sold just 2,953 examples.
December was the Prelude’s first full month on sale in the US, so it’s too early to say if it’s already falling short of expectations or meeting them. We suspect sales have been somewhat restricted to this point due to the hefty premiums some dealerships have been charging.
Once these dealers actually start selling the Prelude at MSRP, sales could rise. Earlier this month, we actually found one dealer selling a Prelude for less than its sticker price.
Hybrid Power
Powering the Prelude is the same powertrain as the Civic Hybrid, including a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder with 141 hp and 134 lb-ft (182 Nm) of torque, as well as an electric motor with 181 hp and 232 lb-ft (315 Nm). Combined power sits at 200 hp and 232 lb-ft (315 Nm).
That’s obviously well down on the Supra and Z, and is also down on the 228 hp of the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR 86 twins. Working in the Prelude’s favor is torque, as the BRZ and GR are capped at just 184 lb-ft.
