{"id":797118,"date":"2026-07-13T07:59:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T07:59:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/797118\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T07:59:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T07:59:21","slug":"honda-australia-could-offer-mugen-parts-for-prelude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/797118\/","title":{"rendered":"Honda Australia could offer Mugen parts for Prelude"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">Honda Australia is looking at expanding its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carexpert.com.au\/honda\/prelude\" class=\"_87i7r20 _87i7r21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Prelude<\/a> offering, which could lead to performance components from legendary Japanese Honda tuner Mugen being officially offered by local Honda dealers for the first time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">The Prelude name returned to Australia in May 2026 after an absence of more than two decades, and while the brand has said a hot Type R version of the born-again coupe is not imminent, it isn&#8217;t ruling out offering more options for buyers of the hybrid sports car.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">\u201cWe are looking at different ways in which we could add, I guess, layers to the Prelude over its lifecycle,\u201d Honda Australia director Rob Thorp told CarExpert.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">This could include tuning parts from Mugen, which has already revealed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carexpert.com.au\/car-news\/2026-honda-prelude-gets-racy-makeover-by-mugen\" class=\"_87i7r20 _87i7r21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Mugen-equipped version of the new Prelude<\/a> in Japan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">Looking for your next car? We&#8217;ll help you\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carexpert.com.au\/car-reviews?utm_source=carexpert-news&amp;utm_medium=linked-text&amp;utm_campaign=research\" class=\"_87i7r20 _87i7r21\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">research\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carexpert.com.au\/compare-cars?utm_source=carexpert-news&amp;utm_medium=linked-text&amp;utm_campaign=compare&amp;_gl=1*18kv7vf*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTQ5NzQ1MDIyNi4xNzc5MjI5OTE2*_ga_4EYEMWDTVH*czE3NzkyMjk5MTYkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzkyMzAxMDQkajYwJGwwJGg0OTMyMTAxMzk.\" class=\"_87i7r20 _87i7r21\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">compare<\/a>\u00a0so you choose with confidence.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_1ivmml51gy _1ivmml51yg _1ivmml514 _1u8h4qz8\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-01-honda-prelude-2.jpg\"  loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"honda-prelude-2\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">It adds front and rear under spoilers, a rear spoiler, rear diffuser treatment, and carbon-fibre side skirts, while other Prelude parts from Mugen include a sports exhaust system.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">Mugen Japan announced Garage IMMI as its new Australian distributor in June, in what is believed to be its first official Australian distribution agreement in many years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">\u201cThe Mugen side of the business is an interesting one,\u201d Mr Thorp told CarExpert.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">\u201cIt&#8217;s one that we haven&#8217;t really been able to lean into much locally yet, but we&#8217;re working on things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_1ivmml51gy _1ivmml51yg _1ivmml514 _1u8h4qz8\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-honda-prelude-blue-49.jpg\"  loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">Mugen \u2013 now trading as M-TEC \u2013 was founded in 1973 by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda founder Soichiro Honda, and is responsible for performance upgrade packages for Honda road cars, while also competing in motorsport including Formula 1.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">Its Australian catalogue extends beyond the Prelude, with parts for a wide range of Honda models including the current <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carexpert.com.au\/honda\/civic\" class=\"_87i7r20 _87i7r21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Civic Type R<\/a>, as well as older vehicles such as the S2000 sports car and the original Honda NSX.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">The comments from the Honda Australia director come only weeks after rival Nissan \u2013 with which Honda is discussing a potential global partnership \u2013 announced plans to open its first local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carexpert.com.au\/car-news\/nissan-to-open-first-nismo-performance-centre-in-australia\" class=\"_87i7r20 _87i7r21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Nismo Performance Centre Melbourne<\/a> later this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">It will be the first outlet for Nismo (which stands for Nissan Motorsports and is the company&#8217;s official performance arm) outside Japan, with plans to expand across Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_1ivmml51gy _1ivmml51yg _1ivmml514 _1u8h4qz8\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2023-12-honda-civic-type-r-the-bend-87.jpg\"  loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">It will offer performance parts for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carexpert.com.au\/nissan\/z\" class=\"_87i7r20 _87i7r21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Nissan Z<\/a> coupe, as well as historic models such as the legendary R32 Skyline GT-R.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">Similarly, Toyota Australia has said it is exploring stand-alone showrooms for its GR (Gazoo Racing) performance division to showcase models such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carexpert.com.au\/toyota\/gr86\" class=\"_87i7r20 _87i7r21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">GR86<\/a> coupe, and potentially future revivals of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carexpert.com.au\/car-news\/toyotas-reborn-mid-engine-mr2-still-years-away-following-tokyo-auto-salon-troll-report\" class=\"_87i7r20 _87i7r21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">MR2<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carexpert.com.au\/car-news\/toyota-celica-revival-to-be-powered-by-2-0-litre-turbo-hybrid-report\" class=\"_87i7r20 _87i7r21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Celica<\/a> sports cars.<\/p>\n<p class=\"m7p3v71 _1ivmml5pq _1ivmml52 _1ivmml5d _1ivmml53fc _1ivmml53l6 _1ivmml53zy _1ivmml545s\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carexpert.com.au\/honda\" class=\"_87i7r20 _87i7r21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Explore the Honda showroom<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Honda Australia is looking at expanding its Prelude offering, which could lead to performance components from legendary Japanese&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":425007,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[64,63,105],"class_list":["post-797118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=797118"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797118\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/425007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=797118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=797118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=797118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}