All-Carbon Honda Prelude GT Has Us Dreaming Of The Type R Potential

The setup means that the car doesn't need a transmission to put its power down to the road.

Honda Prelude GT Super GT Race Car Three Quarter Black Background
Now, Honda is teasing the upcoming Prelude GT race car for competing in Japan's Super GT series in the top GT500 class. The company isn't releasing any details about the project yet, but a gallery of photos offers a great preview of what to expect from the upcoming track machine. The vehicle's first test run is Wednesday, October 1, suggesting there might not be a long wait before we get to see it on the move.

The Prelude GT certainly looks like a race car. The design retains the general appearance of the production version's nose and headlights. However, there's a massive front splitter and large openings in the lower fascia. Huge fender flares give the car a much more aggressive look. The hood also gains prominent vents.

The profile retains the standard Prelude's general silhouette, but with numerous extra aerodynamic elements. The exhaust exits out of the passenger side door. The tall swan-neck wing also differentiates the racer from the road car.

At the rear, Honda's motorsport team extends the road-going Prelude's integrated spoiler. Wide fenders and broad fenders complete the race-ready appearance.

Honda didn't release any photos of the Prelude GT's interior. However, other GT500-class cars provide a good idea of what to expect. The rules stipulate that all the cars use the same carbon-fiber monocoque. The stripped-out cabin puts the driver in a heavily bolstered racing seat.

We already know what powers the Prelude GT because all GT500 cars use the same engine. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder makes around 650 horsepower, with the output going to the rear wheels. A mandated fuel-flow restrictor is the way the series balances the powerplants' performance to maintain competitive on-track action.

What Does This Mean For The Prelude
Honda uses Super GT to promote its performance cars. The company's current entrant in the GT500 class is the Civic Type R-GT. Before that vehicle, it used an NSX for several years. The decision to switch to the Prelude indicates the company is throwing its motorsports weight behind the new model as part of the new coupe's marketing plan.

There are already rumors about Honda building a more powerful Prelude, either as an Si or Type R. It's possible that taking the Prelude racing could be a way to test the waters for customer interest for a hotter model. If racing fans, who are often driving enthusiasts, don't get excited about the Prelude in Super GT, then there might not be a point in creating a more potent road-going version. It's an example of the automotive cliché, "win on Sunday, sell on Monday."

If a hotter Prelude happens, don't expect to see it for a few years. The standard version is just rolling into showrooms, and Honda would want to maximize the profits of that one before expanding the lineup.