Honda Prelude returns: Retro magic meets hybrid innovation in new sports coupe
The new Prelude, first previewed as a concept at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show and later showcased at the Los Angeles Auto Show, stays true to its sporty coupe heritage. Its design echoes the classic lines that made the original a favorite among enthusiasts, while introducing a modern, aerodynamic silhouette and bold color options like Crystal Black Pearl and Rallye Red. The coupe's full LED headlight system and connected taillights further enhance its contemporary appeal, and premium touches such as sequential turn signals are expected to be available.
Under the hood, the Prelude is powered by Honda's award-winning two-motor hybrid powertrain, likely a variant of the system found in the Accord, Civic, and CR-V hybrids. This setup pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with electric motors, delivering an estimated output between 200 and 240 horsepower, balancing spirited performance with eco-friendly efficiency. The hybrid system is part of Honda's broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and transition all sales to battery-electric and fuel-cell vehicles by 2040.A standout feature in the new Prelude is the debut of Honda's innovative S+ Shift mode. This technology is engineered to maximize driver engagement by simulating sharp gear changes, precisely controlling engine RPM during acceleration and deceleration, and synchronizing engine sounds through the Active Sound System. Honda claims this will 'stimulate all of the driver's senses,' offering a dynamic and immersive driving experience reminiscent of the Prelude's athletic legacy.
Inside, the Prelude promises a blend of luxury and technology. The cabin is expected to feature a 12.3-inch touchscreen, customizable digital displays, premium leather and aluminum trim, and amenities such as heated and ventilated front seats, wireless charging, and a Bose premium sound system. Safety will be bolstered by Honda's Sensing 360 suite, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, and Automatic Emergency Braking.
Pricing details have yet to be finalized, but industry estimates suggest a range from $49,000 to $60,000, with multiple trims–EX, Touring, and Elite–offering varying levels of performance and luxury. The Touring trim is expected to provide the best balance of features and efficiency.
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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji gave India its own currency
It is April 1944 in Rangoon. In a vacant bungalow off Jamal Avenue, carpenters are at work turning bare rooms into a working bank. Just a week earlier, this was an empty space. Now, it is about to become the headquarters of a bank and no, this one is not the story of how the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was birthed. This bank was under the authority of the Provisional Government of Free India, led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose . Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Five years before the RBI became fully independent in 1949, Bose launched the Bank of Azad Hind to fund his liberation campaign and to demonstrate that India could run its own financial institutions before it had even won its political freedom. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like My son is 13 years old, but has been in pain since he was 5 Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Also Read: Independence Day 2025: Tryst with growth — India's economic journey from Nehru to now The short but strong saga of this bank has been well drafted in S.A. Ayer's book, "Unto Him a Witness". Ayer, who served in Bose's cabinet, wrote, 'At this stage, Netaji established the first National Bank of Azad Hind outside India in Rangoon on the 5th of April, 1944, to finance the war of India's liberation.' Live Events Building a bank under siege The 'stage' Ayer refers to was a tense moment. Bose was preparing to leave for the front in the Imphal–Kohima campaign. Japanese and Burmese authorities were sceptical about establishing a bank in wartime, fearing political complications. Some colleagues worried about capital, stability, and the timing. But Bose was unmoved and unbothered. 'Have a bank I must, and that too within a few days, before I leave for the front. I must open the bank and then go to the front,' Ayer quoted Bose as saying. Capital came quickly from the Indian diaspora in Southeast Asia. Ayer recounted how four Indians stepped forward to fund the initial days of the newly founded bank, with a vision of free India. 'Perhaps, you may be surprised to hear that four Indians have come forward to find between themselves all the required capital for the bank. They are prepared to write off the capital, if necessary, though I am quite sure they won't have to. In any event, they are ready to assign to the Provisional Government of Azad Hind eighty per cent of the annual profits.' This show of support ended Japanese resistance. 'That silenced the Japanese pretty effectively,' Ayer notes. What followed was a full and renewed case of dedication. Also Read: India's space race: From bullock carts to Gaganyaan 'How one man, Yellappa, and the other four patriotic Indians worked like Trojans night and day for a week and converted a vacant building into a full-fledged bank — with an authorised capital of rupees fifty lakhs is a romantic story that deserves a chapter all by itself,' Ayer said. Peter Fay, in his book "The Forgotten Army", recounts how Netaji's appeal in Rangoon for rupees 5 million triggered an extraordinary outpouring of support from the Indian community in Burma and Malaya, ultimately swelling the Azad Hind Bank's reserves to about 215 million rupees – more than 150 million rupees from Burma alone. Contemporary media reports and later historical accounts identify some of the most prominent donors: Abdul Habeeb Yusuf Marfani, a Gujarati businessman in Rangoon, is said to have pledged his entire fortune of roughly 1 crore rupees; the Betai family, Hiraben and Hemraj, reportedly contributed 50 lakh rupees in cash and assets; and Iqbal Singh Narula famously offered silver equal to Netaji's own weight. The Bank of Azad Hind soon became the treasury of the Provisional Government. 'The funds of the Provisional Government were banked with this bank,' Ayer wrote. It accepted donations 'in cash as well as in kind' from traders, shopkeepers, and plantation workers. These resources funded soldier pay, procurement, propaganda, and relief efforts. Also Read: UPI and beyond: The great Indian banking leap The bank even issued its own currency, denominated in rupees, which circulated in INA-controlled territories, a symbolic assertion of monetary sovereignty even if it carried no value in British India. Image source: Wikipedia Ayer himself served as chairman. 'The National Bank of Azad Hind was established in Rangoon in April 1944. I know a man called Dina Nath. He was one of the Directors of the Bank. I was the Chairman of the Bank,' he writes. A curious afterlife in modern India The institution's life was brief. It closed by the end of World War II or precisely after the INA's retreat and the fall of Rangoon. But decades later, it resurfaced in an unexpected way. Following the Modi government's decision in 2016 to declassify files related to Bose, the finance ministry began receiving unusual petitions. Several borrowers wrote offering to repay their loans using Azad Hind Bank currency notes, some promising the bearer sums as high as ₹1 lakh. 'We have received representations from some individuals who want the currency issued by Azad Hind Bank or similar variants to be recognised as legal tender,' a government official told ET at the time. The Reserve Bank of India, citing Section 22 of the RBI Act, 1934, rejected the requests, saying it had no record of such an entity and that only the RBI has the sole authority to issue banknotes. Some petitioners pushed back, arguing the RBI 'itself was formed by the British' and that the government should take a fresh call. From Ayer's view, the bank was never merely a repository of funds for Bose: Perhaps it was a pledge of a nation to free itself, having 'our own currency and our own bank' alongside an army and a government.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
MG Cyberster deliveries commenced. Owner gets the car as a surprise…
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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Honda Activa 110, Activa 125, SP125 get 25 year Anniversary Edition
In a bid to celebrate its 25 years of journey in India, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has 25-year Anniversary Editions of three of the most popular models – Honda Activa 110, Activa 125 . and SP125. Bookings for the 25-year Anniversary Editions of Honda Activa 110, Activa 125, and SP125 are now open. They will be available at all HMSI authorized dealerships by the end of August 2025. While Honda entered the Indian motorcycle market in 1998 in partnership with Hero MotoCorp, the Japanese motorcycle maker's independent journey started in the country in 2001 with the launch of the Honda Activa. While Honda entered the Indian motorcycle market in 1998 in partnership with Hero MotoCorp, the Japanese motorcycle maker's independent journey started in the country in 2001 with the launch of the Honda Activa. Tsutsumu Otani, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, 'This year, as Honda celebrates 25 years in India and the remarkable milestone of 70 million two-wheelers produced in the country achieved early this year." Yogesh Mathur, Director, Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, added that with the newly launched 25-year Anniversary Editions, the company is not just offering products – 'we are inviting our customers to celebrate a legacy of trust and leadership." Also Read : Shine 100 DX and CB125 Hornet fuel Honda's renewed focus on mass motorcycle market Honda Activa 110, Activa 125 and SP125 25th Anniversary Edition: Price The Honda Activa 110 25-year Anniversary Edition is priced at ₹92,565, while the Activa 125 Anniversary Edition costs ₹97,270. The SP125 25-year Anniversary Edition sits at the top of this celebratory range at ₹1,02,516 (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). Honda Activa 110, Activa 125 and SP125 25th Anniversary Edition: Upgrades The 25-year Anniversary Edition models have been given a distinctive styling treatment to mark the milestone. Both Activa 110 and Activa 125 feature exclusive anniversary graphics on the body panels, a 25-year Anniversary logo on the front apron, and a sleek black chrome finish at the front. The alloy wheels are finished in a striking pyrite brown metallic colour, while the seats and inner panels receive a café-brown/black combination for the Activa 110 and a black finish for the Activa 125. The SP125 Anniversary Edition also sports special anniversary graphics, the commemorative logo on the fuel tank, pyrite brown metallic finished alloy wheels, and updated colour accents. All three models are offered only in the top-spec DLX variant and come in two colour choices – Pearl Siren Blue and Mat Steel Black Metallic. Also Read : Honda to relook at its electric two-wheeler strategy as it finds Indian market stagnant Feature highlights include a fully LED headlamp, a 4.2-inch TFT display, and a USB Type-C charging port. The Activa 110 is powered by a 109.51 cc single-cylinder PGM-Fi OBD2B compliant engine, while the Activa 125 gets a 123.92 cc unit. The SP125 uses a 123.94 cc single-cylinder PGM-Fi OBD2B compliant motor. All three models come with Honda's Combined Braking System (CBS), side-stand engine cut-off, and tubeless tyres. Check out Upcoming Bikes In India. First Published Date:
