Honda introduced the fourth generation of the Prelude in 1991 in Japan and the following year on other markets worldwide.
Even though Honda produced the Prelude for only five years, the car was a stiff competitor for other coupe vehicles on the market. The carmaker built it on the same platform as the Accord’s fourth generation, but it added the famous VTEC engines.

From the outside, it was a significant departure from its predecessor. For starters, it quit the pop-up headlights and installed slim, wide horizontal lamps at the front, with a nose between them that resembled a Formula 1 race-car. Its cab-rearward design with a very raked windshield and short roof made the car look like a rear-wheel-drive coupe, even though it was a front-wheel-drive vehicle. In the back, the sloped windscreen and the tall trunk lid completed the car’s sporty image.

Honda installed a unique interior for the Prelude. The dashboard featured two distinct areas: a vertical, curved panel and an extended area toward the driver and the front passenger. The carmaker dared to move the front side vents on the doors and made them circular, while the center vents were squared, like those from the Accord’s fourth generation. Apart from the front seats, there was a bench in the rear, but with minimal legroom and headroom.

The platform and the technologies used on the Prelude’s fourth-generation were the most important parts of the car. There was a choice of three engines under the hood, but only one of them featured the VTEC technology. Since it was a sport-coupe vehicle, the carmaker installed independent suspension in all corners and then added a four-wheel-steering option for specific versions and standard for others.