MiM
m
13B
AUTO SHOWCASEH’he Charlotte Post
Thursday, May 29,1997
Prelude’s Active Torque Transfer gives driver more control in tight turns
Continued from 14B
of room in the rear. The last
‘Lude was cramped, but could
hold a couple of kids or pack
ages. Adults can ride in rela
tive comfort for a medium-
length trip, depending on how
adult-sized they are.
No one ever bought a Prelude
for its roominess. Its best sell
ing point has been its excep
tionally balanced handling. It’s
gotten better. I thought the last
version was the best-handling
front-wheel drive car I’d ever
driven. This version beats it
hands down.
Why? My test car was the SH
version, which has Honda’s
Active Torque 'Transfer
System. It’s a complicated sys
tem made up of sensors, control
units, clutches, fluids and
■ other stuff. To try to be as sim
ple as possible, the system
gives the driver more control
while the vehicle is turning.
The system processes the infor
mation and causes the front
outside wheel to spin faster
than normal, up to 15 percent
faster. This creates yaw, or
turning movement. I’m not
exactly sure what that means,
but I didn’t notice anything
going on. I did notice that the
car turned sharper than any
thing I’d ever driven. I flung it
aroimd tight turns and felt as if
I were a race car driver. 'The
thing stuck to the road like a
tacky magnet to a refrigerator
door.
The car’s ride is smoother
than some regular sedans. The
four-wheel double wishbone
suspension has been massaged
to give greater comfort without
sacrificing handling. In fact, it
enhances, not hampers.
What’s even more wonderful
is the engine. A 2.2-liter 16-
valve four-cylinder engine pro
duces 195 horsepower and 156
poimds-feet of torque. It makes
the Prelude feel wickedly
peppy. Td say the Prelude can
reach 60 miles per hour under
7.0 seconds, if not faster. The
engine reaches its redline with
a snarly growl, one befitting a
sports car.
Also noteworthy is the five-
speed transmission. Hondas
are always buttery-smooth and
this certainly is no exception.
You can flick through the gears
with ease. The clutch take up is
nearly perfect. The steering? A
touch light at high speeds but
very communicative.
There’s lots else to rave
about. The body is stiffer,
adding to the car’s handling
prowess. 'The interior noise at
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70 mph is pretty low for a
sports car. The standard equip
ment level is quite high: ABS,
AM/FM stereo with CD and
acoustic feedback, power win
dows, door locks and mirrors;
sunroof, air conditioning 16-
inch alloy wheels, four-wheel
disc brakes, rear spoiler, dual
air bags, cruise control, rear
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leather wrapped steering
wheel and shift knob. All of
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floor mats were the only option,
so, with destination, the
Prelude "Type SH clocked in at
$26,182.
That’s the most expensive
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best ever. It’s impeccable road
manners, championship han-
dling and great looks make
this a worthy contender in a
shrinking segment. This is a
livable daily driver. You go
Honda.
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