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03. The Prelude’s Past Meets the Future

05. In the Garage: R32 SKYLINE

06. Gear Up: Track-Ready Essentials

07. The One That Got Him There: The 928

09. Retro Tech: Digital Dashes and Pop-Up Lights

10. Buyer’s Guide: 10 Cheap Track Cars!

11. Ad — NeonTech ECU

12. Back Cover — Modern Fuel Co.

Something Old, Something New.

The Prelude’s Past Meets the Future

“In an era of over-engineered silence, the Prelude returns to remind us what driving used to feel like.”

The Honda Prelude has long held a quiet yet cult-classic status among car enthusiasts. First introduced in 1978, it helped define the sporty front-wheel-drive coupe for over two decades. With crisp handling and an understated design, the Prelude carved out its niche as a daily driver that never lost the fun factor.

Now, after a two-decade hiatus, Honda has revealed a new Prelude concept, signaling a bold return to driver-focused design in an increasingly digital age.

The original Prelude prioritized driver engagement. It didn’t need excessive power; instead, it delivered nimble cornering, a precise manual transmission, and an approachable layout. By the time it left production in 2001, it had earned its reputation as a “driver’s car” in the truest sense.

The first-generation Prelude debuted in 1978, offering sleek design and sporty handling that set the tone for Honda’s future coupes.

“This isn’t just a nameplate revival, it’s a continuation of everything the Prelude stood for.”

Fast forward to 2025, and Honda has unveiled a sharp, hybrid-powered two-door Prelude concept that blends sleek coupe proportions with modern performance.

While specs remain under wraps, early statements from Honda suggest the new Prelude will embrace the hybrid era without sacrificing spirit. “This isn’t just a nameplate revival,” one Honda rep noted. “It’s a continuation of everything the Prelude stood for: elegance, performance, and driver connection.”

Though the 2025 concept swaps hard lines for modern aerodynamics, echoes of the original remain. A long hood, low profile, and purposeful stance make it feel like a true evolution, not a reinvention.

• Hybrid two-door coupe

• Dual-motor layout (FWD likely)

• LED lighting signature

- AT AT GLANCE2025 HONDA PRELUDE CONCEPT

• Estimated release: 2026

• Hybrid two-door coupe

• Driver-focused interior

• Dual-motor layout (most likey FWD)

• LED Lighting signature

• Driver-focused interior

• Estimated 2026 release

GODZILLA IN THE GARAGE: R32 SKYLINE

MODIFICATIONS

• RB26 engine rebuilt with forged JE pistons & Eagle rods

• Tomei titanium exhaust w/ dyno tune (412 hp / 311 tq)

• Ohlins coilovers, Stoptech 332 mm brakes, Volk TE37SL wheels

• Features Bride seats, Takata harness, and a MOMO wheel

Z Car Garage’s client Unicorn R32 featuring Tomei titanium exhaust, Stoptech brakes, and Ohlins coilovers

GEAR UP With Track-Ready Essentials

Whether you’re wrenching on your ride or gearing up for your next autocross weekend, these handpicked tools and accessories will elevate your garage game and get your car track-ready without killing your budget.

Sparco Rush Racing Gloves (Blue)

Fire-resistant and FIA approved, these entry-level gloves provide excellent grip and ventilation for spirited drives or full-on track days.

Price: $74

Rechargeable Magnetic Work Light

Bright, compact, and flexible. Stick it anywhere on the car or hood thanks to its magnetic back, and light up latenight repair sessions.

Price: $29

Garmin Catalyst Driving Performance Optimizer

An AI-powered lap timer and in-car coach that helps you shave seconds off your best time.

Price: $999

JACO ElitePro Tire Pressure Gauge

Precision-tested with a rugged rubber casing. Helps you dial in the perfect PSI for track day or weekend cruising.

Price: $39

3-Ton Low-Profile Jack Stands (Pair)

Ideal for lowered vehicles. Durable steel construction and secure ratchet system means your undercar work is safer and smoother.

Price: $54

Redline Vintage Logo Tee

An exclusive nod to ‘90s tuner style. Rock it trackside or in the garage.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Price: $19

Jeremy Clarkson’s emotional connection to the Porsche 928 — the car that gave him time to say goodbye.

Porsche 928 - at a glance -

• produced from 1977 to 1995

• front-engine, rear-wheel-drive

• Initial models featured a 4.5L SOHC V8, later upgraded to a 4.7L, a 5.0L, and finally a 5.4L in the 928 GTS

• offered with both manual and automatic transmissions

“A car that gave me a chance to say goodbye.”

In 1994, Jeremy Clarkson was on a routine car test. He had a Porsche 928 for the week—a front-engined V8 grand tourer known more for subtlety than firepower.

“I got a call from my mum to say my dad was desperately ill in Sheffield.

With urgency pushing him and the Autobahn-speed capability of the 928 beneath him, Clarkson drove flat out through the English countryside.

Porsche 928 GTS (1994) 5.4L V8 – 345 hp – 0–60 in 5.4s Clarkson’s test model reportedly ran near 170 mph

As he later told it, when he arrived, the food was still warm and his father was still alive. Just thirty minutes later, he passed away.

“And the truth is — if I hadn’t been driving a car that could sit quite happily at 170 miles an hour… I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to say goodbye.”

Years later, while filming the Grand Tour Patagonia Special, Clarkson revisited the 928. He called it “alright,” even as he acknowledged the memory it carried.

For a man known for brutal opinions and sarcasm, this moment—quiet, sincere, human—was unforgettable. Sometimes, a car isn’t about stats. It’s about timing. About being there. And for Clarkson, that night, the 928 was more than alright. It was everything.