Many Honda fans have wondered what the new Prelude would be like with a manual gearbox and Type R power. One answer is about to go on show. The Hasport Prelude Club Racer, built by U.S. tuning company Hasport Performance, makes its world premiere at SEMA Show 2026 in Las Vegas, which opens on November 3. The car is part of a 12-vehicle display by Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US).
Key points
- Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged K20C VTEC four-cylinder from the Civic Type R (FL5)
- Transmission: six-speed manual, also from the Civic Type R, driving the front wheels
- Exhaust: custom system by Borla
- Suspension: based on racing parts from the Integra Type S TCX touring car
- Livery: a tribute to Hasport’s earlier “Prelude Circuit Monster” time-attack car
- Price: none announced, as this is a competition build rather than a production model
A Type R heart in a hybrid coupe
The production Prelude is a hybrid sports coupe. Hasport’s build takes a very different route: it replaces the hybrid powertrain with the K20C engine and six-speed manual transmission from the FL5-series Civic Type R. In standard Civic Type R form, the K20C is reported to produce 330 PS and 420 Nm. Output figures for the Club Racer itself have not been published.
Drive still goes to the front wheels, as in the Civic Type R. The car also gets a custom Borla exhaust, and its suspension draws on components from the Integra Type S TCX race program. According to the report, the goal is quicker, more agile handling and higher roll stiffness, so the car stays flatter and more responsive through fast corners.
Built for the track
Hasport Performance is an American company known for engine-swap components for Honda and Acura vehicles. The Club Racer is aimed at track use, and its graphics pay homage to the company’s earlier time-attack Prelude, nicknamed the “Prelude Circuit Monster.”
Because the car is a dedicated competition machine, no price or sales plan has been announced. Even so, it gives Honda enthusiasts a clear look at what a turbocharged, manual-transmission Prelude could be.
Terms Explained
- Engine swap: replacing a vehicle’s original engine with a different one, often from another model, using adapter parts such as mounts and wiring.
- K20C / VTEC: K20C is Honda’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine used in the Civic Type R. VTEC is Honda’s variable valve timing and lift system.
- FL5: the chassis code of the current Honda Civic Type R.
- Time attack: a motorsport format in which cars run against the clock to set the fastest single lap.
- Roll stiffness: how strongly the suspension resists body lean in corners. Higher roll stiffness means less lean.
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