autoevolution
 

Body style: Coupé (two-door)
Segment: Coupe
Production years: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982

HONDA Prelude 1979-1982 24 Photos
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The first generation of the Prelude was launched in Japan in late 1978 and in the following year was unveiled in Europe and the U.S.

The sporty coupe was a good alternative for the Civic or the Accord, which were, despite their reliability, boring looking cars. The Prelude was a different breed, built with independent suspension in all corners, but on a different platform than the Accord.

Like the Accord and the first generation Civic, the Prelude featured round headlights in squared casings. A chromed rim surrounded the front fascia from the hood's edge to the chromed, plastic bumper. A black grille with horizontal slats was installed and fille and the space between the headlights. The raked windshield started the short greenhouse lines, and a short decklid amplified the sporty look of the car.

The interior was fitted with cloth upholstery for most versions, while the top-trim level was fitted with Connely leather. While most of the cars from that era showed different dials for the tachometer and speedometer, Honda tried something different. The two dials were in a concentric layout. The inner-circle was dedicated to the tachometer and the outer one for the speedometer. In the middle, there was a small area for warning lights. It offered room for two but was fitted with another pair of seats in the back, but with minimal legroom and headroom.

The Prelude was fitted with two engine choices, with a 1.6-liter displacement for the base version and a more powerful, 1.8-liter four-pot unit for the top level.

HONDA Prelude 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
  2 gasoline engines
  • 1.6L 3AT (80 HP)
  • 1.6L 5MT (80 HP)

HONDA Prelude
1.6L 3AT (80 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 1.6L 3AT (80 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1602 cm3
Power:59 KW @ 5300 RPM
80 HP @ 5300 RPM
79 BHP @ 5300 RPM
Torque:94 lb-ft @ 3500 RPM
127 Nm @ 3500 RPM
Fuel System:Carburetor
Fuel:Gasoline
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:102.5 mph (165 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):13.3 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox:3-Speed automatic
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Discs
Rear:Drums
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:155SR13
DIMENSIONS
Length:161 in (4089 mm)
Width:64.6 in (1641 mm)
Height:50.8 in (1290 mm)
Front/rear Track:55.1/55.5 in (1,400/1,410 mm)
Wheelbase:91.3 in (2319 mm)
Ground Clearance:6.3 in (160 mm)
Cargo Volume:9.1 cuFT (258 L)
Aerodynamics (Cd):0.4
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
Combined:26.7 mpg US (8.8 L/100Km)
CO2 Emissions:209 g/km

HONDA Prelude
1.6L 5MT (80 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 1.6L 5MT (80 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1602 cm3
Power:59 KW @ 5300 RPM
80 HP @ 5300 RPM
79 BHP @ 5300 RPM
Torque:94 lb-ft @ 3500 RPM
127 Nm @ 3500 RPM
Fuel System:Carburetor
Fuel:Gasoline
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:102.5 mph (165 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):13.3 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Discs
Rear:Drums
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:155SR13
DIMENSIONS
Length:161 in (4089 mm)
Width:64.6 in (1641 mm)
Height:50.8 in (1290 mm)
Front/rear Track:55.1/55.5 in (1,400/1,410 mm)
Wheelbase:91.3 in (2319 mm)
Ground Clearance:6.3 in (160 mm)
Cargo Volume:9.1 cuFT (258 L)
Aerodynamics (Cd):0.4
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:2028.3 lbs (920 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:2998.3 lbs (1360 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
Combined:26.7 mpg US (8.8 L/100Km)
CO2 Emissions:209 g/km
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