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THE 1997 Honda Prelude has been redesigned for 1997. The new notchback bodystyle is roomier and offers
& larger trunk. Two new features have been added: a new automatic transmission that can be shifted manu-
ally, and an ‘Active Torque Transfer System’ that improves handling. Test drvie the new Prelude at Pacific
Honda, 725 Marine Dr., North Vancouver (984-0231).

A Prelude to the future

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west
drive

THE first all-new
Honda Prelude in five
years is an interesting
study in contrasts.
While its new high-
tech features embrace
technology of the
future, its styling bor-
rows heavily from the
past.

The 1997 Prelude offers a
unique “active torque trans-
fer system” that’s designed to
improve handling by direct-
ing more power to the out-
side wheel during a turn
(something like a bulldozer).
In addition, the base Prehide
offers a new, optional auto-
matic transmission that can
be shifted manually without a
clutch.

The Prelude’s new styling,
however, could be interpret-
ed as a return to the success-
ful notchback Prelude design
of the Eighties. According to
Honda, this about-face in
styling is a direct result of
customer feedback. After the
last Prelude was introduced
in 1992, Honda conducted
surveys and focus groups to
assess the strengths and
weaknesses of the redesigned
Prelude. According to these
surveys, “some” people did-
n’t like the Prelude’s new
styling, lack of rear seat
legroom, and small trunk. So
Honda completely
redesigned it for 1997.

The new 2+2 norchback
coupe, with its low, wide
hood, tall “greenhouse” and
short, flat rear deck, looks
very much like the second
and third generation

Preludes of the mid-1980s
and early-1990s. Those used
Preludes are now very popu-
lar with younger buyers, and
this may have been one rea-
son Honda decided to go
retro.

Another factor may be
that in Honda’s home mar-
ket, Japan, sporty coupe buy-
ers prefer traditional notch-
back styling to fastbacks.
That’s the unofficial reason
Nissan dumped the fastback
version of the 240SX in favor
of the notchback last year.

The new Prelude is 80
mam longer, 25 mm higher,
and 15 mm narrower than
the previous mode!. The
wheelbase is 35 mm (1.3 in.)
longer and this has increased
rear seat legroom from
“barely-enough” to “just
enough.” There seems to be
a lot more rear headrcom,
though, and the whole inte-
tior feels much brighter and
more spacious because of the
greater window area, a low
cowl, and the non-intrusive
interior design.

Cargo-carrying ability has
been significantly enhanced.
The new Prelude has 22%
more trunk space, a 200 .um
(3 in.) wider trunk opening,
and a folding rear seatback.

Honda offers 1997
Preludes in two models:
Prelude and Prelude Type
SH. Both use the same 195
horsepower (190 hp with
automatic transmission) twin
cam 2.2-fitre four-cylinder
engine with variable valve
timing that was available on
the previous Prelude. The
standard transmission is a
five-speed manual, but the
big news is anew ‘Sequential
Sportshitt four-speed auto-
matic transmission that
allows the driver to shift
manually by pushing for-
wards tor upshifts and back
for downshitis. The advan-
tage of this type of tronsnis-
sion is that the driver has the
choice of automatic opera-
tion or manual.

Und recently, this wpe of

EW, HONDA PRELUDE Ti TECHNICAL DAT

Base: price: $28; 500.5:
“Type: ewo-door, four-passen;

. Layout: transverse front eng engin

coupe

ep ei a

Engine: 2.2-litre’ four-cylinder, DOHC, i

Horsepower: 195 @ 7,000 r.p.m.
ft.-lIbs. @5,250 rpm
five-speed fwianwal (ured auto ‘Spore:

Torque: '156
; Transmissio

Curb weights 1,380 kg (3,042 |
Wheelbase: 2 “585: mm FOr: 3 in.)

Length:

. Heig

manual /automatic transmis-
sion was available only on
expensive sports cars like
Porsche 911s and Acura
NSXs, but the technology is
now filtering down ta more
affordable cars, such as the
Chrysler Intrepid and
Prelude. For unexplained
reasons, the Sportshift trans-
mission is not available on
the Type SH model.

The most significant new
technological feature of the
new Prelude is it *Active
Torque Transter System,”
available only on the Type
SH. This is a computer-acti-
vated system that sends more
power tu the outside driving
wheel in a cocuer to improve
handling and steering charac-
teristics. Depeading on con-
ditions, up to $0% of the
drive foree can be distributed
to the outside front wheet
It's comparable to the way a
bulldozer turns by rotating
the outside tread more than
the inside tread.

{drove a Type SH ona
race track to get a feel tor
this new system, and my
impression is that while it
does improve grip and steer-
ing TESPONSIVEHNESS, is not
the kind of feature that will
get used in everyday driving

4,522 mm (178.0 in.)" :
Width: 1,752 mm (69.0 in.)
tI ,315-mm (51.8 in.)

— and thus its benefits are
minimal. The same thing
applied to Honda’s four-
wheel-steering which was
offered on the last Prelude.
While it did miake ir easier to
change lanes and parallel
park, its benefits could only
be appreciated by a minority
of enthusiast drivers.

The new Prelude is well-
equipped with standard
205/50VR-16 inch tires and
alloy wheels, four wheel disc
brakes with ABS, and a new

“effort-sensing™ power steer-
ing svstem (similar to the
Honda Accord).

The base Prelude, priced
at $28,500, includes air-con-
ditioning, an AM/FM/CD
player with six speakers and a
unique feedback system to
adjust sound quatity, power
door-locks and windows,
immobilizer system, heated
seats, driver's seat-height
adjustment, tachometer, tilt
wheel, cruise control, fold-
down rear seat, a “walk-in”
front passenger seat, front
and rear cupholders, and a
centre console with storage
compartment.

The Prelude Type SH,
which starts ac $31,300, adds
the Active Torque ‘Transter
System and a rear spoiler,

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