Prestigious Honda Prelude Hybrid Drops Automatic Gearbox Setback for a Performance Boost

The Rise and Fall of the Manual Transmission: A Tale of Two Eras

In the world of cars, it seems that the fate of the manual transmission is a tale of two eras. On one hand, there’s a resurgence of interest in this classic way of shifting gears, with the likes of Ford, Toyota, and Volkswagen continuing to offer manual options in their lineups. On the other hand, there’s a sense of decline, with others like Dodge, Porsche, and even Honda themselves seemingly abandoning the manual transmission in favor of more modern solutions like automatics and CVTs.

Honda’s Dilemma: The End of the Stick-Shift Prelude?

The latest casualty in this saga is Honda’s iconic Prelude, which has been confirmed to ditch the manual transmission for its upcoming 2026 rebirth. Gone are the days of the Prelude’s sporty, stick-shift driving experience, replaced by a hybrid powertrain and a CVT. The news may come as a disappointment to fans of the iconic coupe, which has been discontinued for nearly a quarter of a century only to be revived in sleek, electric guise at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show.

"We’re not going to put a serious sports car on the market," said Tomoyuki Yamagami, Honda’s Chief Engineer, in a statement that clears up any expectations of a thrilling, performance-oriented Prelude. Instead, this latest iteration will be the "prelude for all of the electric vehicles that Honda is going to be launching."

The End of an Era: The Loss of a Legacy Driving Experience

While the discontinuation of the manual transmission Prelude may not come as a surprise, it does mark the end of an era for those who long for the tactile experience of rowing through gears. With Honda’s other models, like the Civic Hybrid, making do with CVTs, the writing seems to be on the wall for the stick-shift faithful.

But for those who cherish the thrill of shifting, there’s still hope. BMW and Mini, for instance, continue to offer manual options in select models, albeit with some caveats. So, what’s your take on the future of the manual transmission? Will we see a resurgence of stick-shift enthusiasm, or is this the end of an era? Share your thoughts and tips with us at [email protected].

And that’s a wrap!

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