was known for several noteworthy cars in the '80s, like the iconic CRX Si. One that often gets overlooked is the Honda Prelude, a memorable, surprisingly technologically-advanced sports coupe.

Motor Trend

outlines the five generations that made up the Honda Prelude's history. Through these generations, we can see how the Prelude gained momentum and how it came to an underwhelming end in the early 2000s.

The first-generation Honda Prelude was a quirky sports compact

Before the Honda Prelude truly hit its stride, it was a fun but potentially underpowered two-door compact. The first-generation Prelude hit the streets in the 1978 model year. The 1978 Honda Prelude shared a lot of features with the Accord, including its engine and brakes.

This engine may have been why the early Prelude failed to gain much momentum. It produced only 72 horsepower and took 19 seconds to get from 0 to 60 miles per hour.

The Prelude was not necessarily underpowered compared to its competition from the time, but it didn't stick out for being fast either.

Because of this uninspired power and a fairly expensive MSRP, the first-generation Honda Prelude failed to make much of an impact on the market. However, Honda did not give up on the Prelude, and its second and third generations became hugely successful.

How the Honda Prelude took over in the '80s

In 1983, drivers in the U.S. got behind the wheel of the second-generation Honda Prelude for the first time. Visually, the second-generation model had a sleekness to it while also showing off sharp angles, a design choice that was popular in the 1980s.

Arguably the most important change, though, was in the improved performance. Second-generation Preludes could get from 0 to 60 mph in 9 seconds, a significant improvement from the predecessor.

With this momentum, Honda introduced the third-generation Prelude in 1988, and this was a car that truly belongs among the

best '80s sports cars

. Horsepower continued to pick up with the third-generation model, and it boasted technological innovations like four-wheel-steering.

Sales of the third-generation Honda Prelude reflected the improvements that had been made, as Honda sold 336,599 units.

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Why did Honda discontinue the Prelude?

In 1992, Honda launched the fourth-generation Prelude, and its design was vastly different from previous models. The angular design of the '80s had been replaced by a more rounded body style. Whether this was an upgrade or a downgrade is a matter of preference.

One area that Honda undoubtedly continued to improve the Prelude, though, was in its power. With options like a VTEC engine, this was one of Honda's most powerful cars at the time.

Then, in 1997, Honda unveiled the fifth-generation Prelude. The design of the new Prelude was a nice middle-ground between the modern design of the fourth-generation models and the ones that came before it. However, the new Honda Prelude was largely ignored and only sold 58,118 units.

These poor sales were one of the primary reasons for the Prelude being discontinued. The Honda Prelude also faced difficulties continuing to stay relevant because of Honda's Acura brand. Acura was becoming popular for its sports cars, and this meant less attention toward the Honda Prelude.

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