2026 Honda Prelude Cabin Revealed with Driver-Focused Layout

Honda has unveiled the complete cabin of the 2026 Prelude at the Red Bull Showrun parade, showcasing an interior that places the driver at the center of the experience. This reveal gives us our first look inside the revived sports coupe that will bring Honda's performance heritage into the electrified era.

The interior completes what began at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show, where Honda displayed only the Prelude's exterior. Now we see how Honda has created a driving environment that reinforces the model's focus on driver engagement while incorporating hybrid technology.

Cockpit Design

Everything about the 2026 Prelude's interior revolves around the driving experience. The dashboard follows a horizontal orientation that enhances spatial awareness while positioning essential controls within your natural reach zone. The center console angles toward the driver seat, creating an asymmetrical design that prioritizes your access to key functions.

The sport seats feature a blue mesh center section framed by white bolsters, providing lateral support during spirited driving without compromising comfort. Your view from the driver's seat includes a digital instrument cluster that adapts based on driving mode, with unique visual themes that activate when you engage performance features.

S+ Shift: Performance Enhancement

The most distinctive element in the Prelude's cabin is the prominently positioned S+ Shift button. This feature transforms how you experience Honda's e:HEV hybrid system, creating dynamic engine RPM changes during acceleration and deceleration while enhancing engine sound through the Active Sound Control system.

When activated, S+ Shift enables the paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel, allowing you to control virtual "gear" shifts despite the absence of a mechanical transmission. This system responds to your inputs with quick shifts and maintains optimal engine RPM through corners, delivering the engagement of a manual with the efficiency of a hybrid.

Premium Materials

Throughout the cabin, Honda balances performance focus with quality materials. The flat-bottom steering wheel uses premium wrapping with contrast stitching. Metal accents highlight key touchpoints against the predominant blue-white color scheme, creating both visual distinction and tactile feedback.

The "Prelude" name appears embossed on the headrests, a subtle detail that reinforces the model's identity. This attention to refinement shows Honda's understanding that a performance vehicle should feel special every time you enter it.

Technology Integration

The 2026 Prelude's cabin integrates technology in ways that enhance rather than distract from driving. The touchscreen sits at a height that minimizes eye movement from the road, while physical controls remain for frequently used functions.

When you activate S+ Shift, the digital displays adapt to provide visual reinforcement, changing graphics and information hierarchy to support the performance-focused driving mode. This thoughtful integration shows Honda's commitment to using technology to serve the driving experience.

Heritage Connection

The "S" in S+ Shift connects to Honda's performance legacy, recalling iconic models like the S600, S2000, and Type S. This link to Honda's sporting heritage appears throughout the cabin in subtle ways, maintaining continuity with what made previous Prelude generations special while moving the nameplate into a new era.