Honda Prelude Type SH

Honda Prelude Type SH

The fifth-generation Honda Prelude Type SH was Honda at the height of its engineering ambition. The headline feature was ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System) — a mechanical torque-vectoring differential that could send up to 80% of drive torque to the outer front wheel in a corner. This was a decade before any competitor offered similar technology, and it transformed the Prelude's handling from merely good to genuinely exceptional, virtually eliminating understeer without the electronic trickery of modern systems. The 2.2-litre H22A DOHC VTEC engine produced 195 hp (JDM) at 7,000 rpm with that characteristic Honda VTEC surge. Combined with double-wishbone suspension at all four corners, the Prelude was a sublime handling machine that could embarrass much more expensive sports cars on a twisty road. The fifth-gen Prelude's styling was clean and contemporary, with a low roofline and wide track that hinted at its sporting intentions. It was also practical enough for daily use, with reasonable rear seats and a usable trunk. The Prelude was Honda's flagship coupe, sitting above the Civic-based Integra and below the NSX supercar. When Honda discontinued it in 2001, it marked the end of an era for Honda's ambitious, technology-led approach to sports cars.