The Type R That Never Was
Some enthusiasts were not impressed with the Honda Prelude because its sporty styling and historic nameplate raised performance expectations, but its hybrid powertrain doesn’t necessarily meet them. The Prelude is powered by a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four with a two-motor hybrid system, delivering a combined output of 200 horsepower, slightly less than the CR-V Hybrid on paper.
However, enthusiasts may get what they want at the 2026 SEMA Show, where at least two custom Preludes will be showcased. Both feature Civic Type R powertrains, including a 2.0-liter turbocharged K20C1 engine that produces 315 horsepower in factory form and a 6-speed manual transmission. One was built by Hasport, a manufacturer of Honda and Acura engine-swap components, and will be displayed at the Honda Racing Corporation booth. The other comes from aftermarket tuning company throtl.
A Double Dose of Type R
The Hasport Prelude Club Racer is a track-focused build designed to compete in time attack events. Sporting a livery that pays tribute to the Hasport Prelude Circuit Monster, the custom car features a Borla exhaust system and suspension tuning derived from the Acura Integra Type S TCX race car.
On the other hand, throtl’s build is described as the “Prelude Type R that Honda never did.” This gives enthusiasts a reimagined version of what the Prelude could have looked like if it had come from the factory with a more potent powertrain. Well, Honda designed the production Prelude as a modern grand touring sports coupe that balances driving enjoyment, fuel efficiency, and everyday usability.
The aftermarket tuning company’s build is documented on its YouTube channel, which shows that the engine swap was far from straightforward, despite the Prelude and Civic sharing core underpinnings. There were several challenges, including modifying the front and rear bumpers and fabricating custom motor mounts.
Honda’s Racing Pedigree on Full Display
Aside from the Hasport Prelude Club Racer, the Honda Racing Corporation booth will showcase other performance vehicles at the upcoming SEMA Show, including the Civic Type R HRC Concept making its North American debut, 2027 Passport TrailSport Baja Chase, Honda-powered 2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 AMR26, and 2026 Indy 500-winning Honda IndyCar. HRC US will also introduce its first lineup of performance parts for both on-road and off-road vehicles.
The 2026 SEMA Show will run from November 3 to 6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About the author
Rex Sanchez
News Editor