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Throtl and Idemitsu built a one-off Honda Prelude Type R concept, displayed at SEMA in Las Vegas, using the FL5 Civic Type R’s turbocharged engine, six-speed manual and numerous other components. The project shows how a higher-performance Prelude might be assembled, but it is a custom build—not an announcement that Honda plans to sell a Type R version.
Throtl and Idemitsu have built a one-off Honda Prelude Type R, combining the sixth-generation Prelude with the FL5 Civic Type R’s turbocharged K20C1 engine and six-speed manual. The custom car was displayed at SEMA in Las Vegas, according to The Drive, and offers an example of how a more performance-focused Prelude could be assembled; it is not a Honda production announcement.
The project began with a question from Throtl and Idemitsu: what might a Prelude Type R look like if Honda built one? Throtl co-founder Evan Beckerman told The Drive that the team aimed to keep the parts choice within Honda’s lineup rather than build a fast car from unrelated components. The central change was replacing the Prelude’s hybrid setup with the Civic Type R’s K20C1 turbo-four and six-speed manual transmission.
The team also adapted Civic Type R front and rear bumpers, its triple-exit exhaust and rear wing. Seibon worked with Throtl to incorporate a version of the Civic’s hood scoop into a carbon-fiber Prelude hood. The wing’s mounts were moved inward so the Prelude’s hatch could still open, The Drive reported.
According to Beckerman, the Civic donor parts made some aspects of the conversion easier than expected, including electronics. He said the car’s systems recognize it as an FL5 Civic Type R when connected to an OBD2 reader. The build also uses the Civic’s shifter and center console, and even its carpet. Throtl re-trimmed the door panels and rear seats in red Alcantara. Beckerman identified the wiring and exhaust fabrication as the most difficult work, while describing the mechanical conversion as relatively straightforward.
A Prelude With Type R Hardware
The build gives enthusiasts a tangible example of a higher-performance Prelude concept at a time when some questioned whether the new model’s hybrid powertrain and 200 horsepower would satisfy buyers seeking a more forceful coupe. That concern is a reaction to the car’s specifications, not proof that the Prelude is unsuitable for its intended role; The Drive notes that the model was not designed to be the most raucous sports coupe.
For readers, the project also shows the scale of a conversion that borrows heavily from a related Honda. The parts sharing is not simply cosmetic: Throtl adapted the Civic’s engine, transmission, body components and cabin equipment. Beckerman said that seeing how the donor parts fit led him to think Honda could build such a car without an enormous engineering effort. That is his assessment of the project, not a confirmed view from Honda.
There is a potential product-positioning question, too. Beckerman said a Prelude Type R could upset the Civic Type R’s position as Honda’s performance flagship. Whether Honda would see the models as competitors, and whether the company has considered this version, are not established by the report.
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Why the Civic Donor Fits
The sixth-generation Prelude shares a platform with the Civic and, as described in The Drive’s report, already uses the Civic Hybrid’s 200-horsepower powertrain. The report also says the Prelude comes with Type R suspension and brakes. That shared foundation gave Throtl a starting point for fitting parts from the FL5 Civic Type R, though it did not remove the need for custom work.
One example involved cooling. When the team placed the Civic Type R intercooler behind the Prelude’s standard front bumper, it found the available airflow inadequate. Adapting the FL5 bumper provided a solution, according to The Drive. The build therefore involved reverse-engineering how Civic Type R components could work in the Prelude, not simply installing an engine and leaving the rest of the car unchanged.
The team did not pursue a modification that preserved the Prelude’s hybrid system. Beckerman told The Drive that aftermarket efforts to modify the Prelude’s inline-four had been largely unsuccessful, and described the complex, software-controlled powertrain as difficult to change. The custom build instead replaced that setup with the Type R engine and manual transmission.
““If Honda were to build the Prelude Type R, what would it look like?””
— Evan Beckerman, Throtl co-founder, speaking to The Drive
No Honda Production Plan Confirmed
The report does not say Honda plans to produce a Prelude Type R, or that the company has endorsed Throtl’s concept. The car is a custom build by Throtl and Idemitsu, and its display at SEMA does not establish that a factory version will follow.
Details such as the completed build’s verified power output, performance testing, cost and road certification are not provided in the supplied report. It also does not establish whether Honda could reproduce the conversion at a particular price or production volume. Beckerman’s view that the work could be relatively straightforward is based on this project and should not be taken as a Honda engineering estimate.
The Build’s Next Public Updates
The Drive points readers to Throtl’s YouTube channel for the build’s full video series. Further updates from the builders could show more of the fabrication process and the finished car, but the source report gives no schedule for additional testing or public appearances.
For a factory Prelude Type R, the next meaningful development would be an announcement from Honda. Until then, the displayed car remains a tuner-built concept demonstrating one way to combine the Prelude with Civic Type R hardware.
Key Questions
Is Honda making a Prelude Type R?
No production plan is confirmed in the report. The car described is a custom Throtl and Idemitsu build, not a Honda-announced model.
What engine does the custom Prelude Type R use?
It uses the Civic Type R’s K20C1 turbocharged four-cylinder and six-speed manual transmission, according to The Drive.
What Civic Type R parts were used?
The build includes the engine and transmission, front and rear bumpers, triple-exit exhaust, rear wing, shifter, center console and other cabin components. The hood was also adapted to incorporate a scoop design.
Where was the build shown?
The Drive reported that the Prelude Type R build was on display at SEMA in Las Vegas. The supplied report does not specify the event year.
Did the conversion keep the Prelude’s hybrid powertrain?
No. Throtl replaced the Prelude’s hybrid setup with the Civic Type R engine and manual transmission. Beckerman told The Drive that modifying the Prelude’s inline-four while retaining its electrified system had not proved successful for aftermarket builders.
Source: thedrive.com
