Honda Racing reveals GT500 version of the new Prelude

Prelude GT prototype being developed by HRC

The reborn Honda Prelude has come out as a 200 PS sports hybrid. But for those looking for more performance, well Honda has granted your wish. Well, sort of.

Honda Racing has revealed the new Prelude GT Prototype, which has turned the coupe from mild to wild. The wide-bodied, full carbon racer is set to replace the Civic Type R GT500 in Japan’s Super GT Series for the 2026 season.

While it does have some parts taken from the road-going version such as the headlights, taillights, and the shape of the roof, we’re pretty sure the Prelude GT Prototype will share very little in common to the production road car.

As seen in the photos, the prototype exposes the full carbon body shell along with its flared fenders. It also features extreme aerodynamic downforce generators such as the front splitter, skirts and the massive swan-neck rear wing.

The 2026 Prelude has a 2.0-liter e:HEV powertrain that sends 203 PS to the front wheels, but the GT500 racer will ditch the hybrid setup for a 2.0-liter turbo with about 550 to 650 horsepower. The front wheel drive layout is also being ditched, as the Prelude GT will be rear wheel drive.

Honda Racing has somehow struggled to keep pace with the Civic Type R GT500 against Toyota’s GR Supra GT500 and the Nissan Z Nismo GT500 in the 2024 and 2025 season. Hopefully, HRC makes the Prelude GT more competitive than its predecessor.