A brand-new Honda Prelude barely gets a chance to remain stock before the crew decides its hybrid powertrain is too restrained for their ambitions. After a quick full-throttle drive, the verdict from the builders is unmistakable: they find the car slow, question its value at roughly $50,000, and intend to transform it into the enthusiast-focused machine they believe it should be. That strong opinion gives the project an immediate purpose, while the planned 2026 SEMA reveal provides a larger goal beyond simply dismantling a new car for spectacle.
The most interesting early material concerns the hybrid system and the precautions required before anyone starts tearing into it. Will, described as the group’s EV expert, traces the orange high-voltage wiring, locates the battery pack and removes the service disconnect before isolating the positive and negative connections. The explanation remains casual rather than instructional, but it adds substance to the teardown by showing why dismantling a hybrid demands different considerations from an ordinary engine removal. The repeated joking about electrocution keeps the mood light, although the subject is serious enough that viewers should not interpret the sequence as a comprehensive guide to safely servicing high-voltage systems.
Once the electrical system is de-energized, the teardown becomes a fast-moving mechanical exploration. Cooling components, the bumper, wheels, battery tray, ECU, axles and other hardware gradually disappear as the crew works toward removing the complete powertrain. Discoveries such as the two-piece rotors, familiar suspension geometry and compact packaging provide useful glimpses into how Honda assembled the car. There is also refreshing honesty when the builders encounter components they cannot immediately identify rather than pretending to understand every unfamiliar part.
The powertrain removal delivers the episode’s biggest visual payoff. Despite some uncertainty about lifting points and the usual shop-floor improvisation, the engine and associated hardware eventually emerge as a package, leaving a remarkably empty engine bay. The crew is surprised by how readily much of the assembly comes apart, and their comments about similarities to Honda’s Type R architecture help explain why some portions of the process feel familiar to them. Their observations are clearly presented as hands-on impressions rather than an exhaustive technical analysis, which suits the project-focused format.
Stripping the cabin extends that same approach. Seats and the center console come out before the high-voltage battery is removed, revealing the practical complication created by the rear seats sitting above the battery location. Suggestions ranging from fabricating a lightweight replacement panel to turning the cavity into a subwoofer enclosure add the kind of spontaneous brainstorming that makes a workshop build entertaining. Removing much of the dashboard and interior demonstrates how comprehensive the intended transformation will be, even though the constant banter and rapid progression mean some removal procedures receive little detailed explanation.
The episode works best as the beginning of a larger build rather than as a standalone technical teardown. By the end, a functioning new car has become an essentially unusable shell, yet the replacement powertrain and other major upgrades remain deliberately undisclosed. That creates genuine anticipation for the next stage, but it also means the central promise of making the Prelude “better” cannot be evaluated yet. As an opening chapter, however, the combination of a dramatic new-car teardown, sensible attention to the hybrid system and an energetic shop dynamic makes the destruction feel purposeful rather than merely provocative.
Pros
- Bringing in someone experienced with EV systems gives the high-voltage battery removal an appropriate emphasis on safety.
- The teardown exposes substantial portions of the Prelude’s hybrid powertrain, cooling hardware, suspension, interior and electrical packaging.
- The crew openly acknowledges unfamiliar components instead of presenting guesses as authoritative explanations.
- Removing the complete powertrain and stripping much of the cabin provides satisfying visible progress toward the larger build.
- Casual humor and spontaneous problem-solving keep a potentially repetitive disassembly process entertaining.
Cons
- The initial criticism of the Prelude’s performance and value is based largely on the crew’s impressions rather than detailed measurements or comparisons.
- Several mechanical procedures move too quickly to provide much instructional value for viewers interested in the finer details of the teardown.
- Frequent jokes and side conversations occasionally distract from the more interesting technical discoveries.
- Because the replacement powertrain and major modifications are saved for later, the episode ends before the project’s most important engineering choices are revealed.
Turning a nearly new Prelude into an empty shell makes for an engaging opening to an ambitious build, especially because the crew combines its usual workshop humor with meaningful attention to the unfamiliar hybrid hardware. The episode withholds the transformation that will ultimately determine whether the project fulfills its promises, but the unusually comprehensive teardown establishes a strong foundation for what comes next.
