It looks like a Tesla, but it’s the return of an old Japanese classic: there’s already a queue to get it – Drift

Recently, a famous Japanese brand presented its new jewel: it is a model that draws from the past and from Tesla.

One of the most prestigious car manufacturers in the world is undoubtedly Elon Musk’s Tesla, above all thanks to its innovative, technological and futuristic vehicles. Of course, there are dozens of car manufacturers on Earth dreaming of emulating the characteristics of the vehicles of the Austin brand. It is no coincidence that Tesla cars continue to break records especially in Europe and America. For example, the best-selling car in Europe in 2023 is the Model Y.

The latter achieved a huge result: an unexpected +208% in sales between August 2023 and August 2022. This means that the Austin brand is very loved in Western countries. Therefore, it is normal that many car manufacturers try to assimilate the characteristics of the most popular vehicles.

Japan is re-proposing a much-loved model

The car manufacturer Honda, during the highly anticipated Los Angeles Auto Show event from November 17-26, 2023, presented an innovative hybrid car: the Honda Prelude Hybrid. The latter is the new generation of an iconic car, which Honda has revived several times throughout its long history. It is no coincidence that it is a model made up of 5 generations incorporated within two decades: from 1978 to 2001. What is most surprising is the power of the name of the vehicle, in fact it is enough to bring an iconic model back to the surface to immediately attract millions of people. Obviously, car manufacturers know very well that a successful car remains forever in everyone’s memory, so they exploit this human characteristic to increase the audience.

Furthermore, this psychological tactic is also used to promote new hybrid and electric engines: putting a little-known engine on a Panda, for example, means advertising it to millions of individuals in a very short time. It is no coincidence that the Japanese leaders have decided to transform an iconic model in a hybrid car. Lately, the Tokyo company has declared that it is evaluating where to produce the new Prelude and in which market to launch it. However, some experts believe that Honda’s new hybrid car is the updated version of the Civic Coupe.

The latter is a car that has achieved very few sales, so it is thought that the Japanese leaders decided to change its name and redesign it without distorting it. Clearly, slightly redesigning a flop vehicle without revolutionizing it allows the company to continue using the same production segment. Furthermore, to be sure that the new model will sell thousands of units, it is sufficient to give it a resonant name from the past.