Ever since Honda announced their new electric SUV, the Prologue, people have been recalling the old Honda Prelude and noting that Honda, amongst all automakers, seems to have an odd affinity for names that reference things that happen before things. So, with this in mind, I thought it might be fun to come up with the definitive list of car names that fit this strange category. I guess if Honda decides to use any of these, they can just, you know, send us a check?
I guess going on two names – the smallest possible plural number – may be a bit thin, but I’m serious when I say a surprising number of people have noted this to me. Normal people, even!
It’s also worth noting that in the Grand Honda Scheme of things, these names aren’t even really all that odd. Honda isn’t afraid of strange names, especially for cars not destined for the North American market. They have a car named Today, for example. And there’s more, and remember, these are all real: 
LaGreat? That’s what they called the Odyssey in Japanese markets. Life Dunk? That’s? Who the hell names a car “that’s?” Not even “that is!” I mean, I love it, but damn, that’s bonkers, Honda.
Anyway, the whole Prologue/Prelude thing seems to have captured the attention of even my non-car-obsessed friends and loved ones, so I do feel like it’s important we help Honda explore this, if only to get it out of their system.
I think a big reason for this is just that fact that names about things that happen before the real thing happens are just, well, weird. They feel like they’re underselling the car, because they all imply the car itself is not the main event; it’s just the lead-in to the good stuff. And why the hell would you name a car for that?
But, if that’s what Honda wants, that’s what Honda gets, so here we go, Honda: more options for you!
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Honda Preface
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Honda Preamble
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Honda Pre-ejaculate
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Honda Presage
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Honda Foreword
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Honda Epigraph
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Honda Front Matter
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Honda Antechamber
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Honda Vestibule
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Honda Lead-in
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Honda Anacrusis
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Honda Opener
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Honda Overture
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Honda Teaser
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Honda Cold Open
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Honda Proem
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Honda Prolegomenon
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Honda Exordium
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Honda Build Up
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Honda Preperatory
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Honda Warmup
That’s a pretty good list, right? Honda, if you really, really decide to lean into this, look at all these options!
I can 100% see the Honda Foreword being a thing
Nissan already made a Presage until 2009.
Toyota kind of joined the game with the 4 Runner (forerunner).
The Honda Overture would have made a great sister car to the Honda Concerto of the 90s.
They really need to come out with a sports car called the Honda Illiad. It will be the lead-in car to the Odyssey that you’ll keep for 10+ years.
If only they had waited for the Affordable Care Act. What might have been. Sigh.
I want a Honda Prolegomenon because can you imagine the fun conversations I would have when people ask me what I drive?
🙁
“Honda Foreplay”.
It’s right up there with the Dodge Swinger!
Perhaps the Honda Pre-ejaculate is a more exciting version of the Foreplay?
Preamble and Overture are absolute banger of a car nome tbh.
I seriously love the Overture name. It’s kind of music themed too!
Couldn’t we just pick any man’s name?
Honda Kevin?
I prefer the Honda Steve
Every one of those will come first.
The Honda Prorate. 5 year warranty and if it breaks in the first year you get 80% of your purchase price back, 60% if it breaks in the second year and so forth.
I could totally see Honda using Preamble and Overture.
Now I’m kind of surprised they haven’t already.
Presage and Overture make sense, I’d like those names
Given the Ridgeline is part of the majority of Honda’s current offerings that are built in the US, they could beef it up and offer a Honda National Anthem. Play ball!
The high performance Honda Purgatory. Where you go next depends on how you drive it.
*Preparatory
Premature Pickup Truck would be easy, but Post Coitus Minivan or crossover would be more apt. Or, in my neighbourhood, anything Acura could probably be re-branded Premenstrual.
I’m not sure how I got onto this ugly theme. Maybe some sort of bad premonition.
If they manage to get self-driving working really well, they could unveil the Aperitif, with the Pre-Game trim for the rowdier and less discerning consumers.
The Beverly trim is only sold in Italy (and for some reason, Disney World). Nobody likes it.
Pre-cum,cold start,be-ginning,pre-wash,foreword,forewarning,preemptive,, Fuck, I’m all out..
I thought of the Foreskin, but didn’t post it… but it does lead the charge of that which is about to follow.
Since the Embryo has been claimed (surprisingly without a lawsuit involved), I suggest the Honda I’m Not Walking to the Drugstore in the Rain minivan, which will remind you daily why you can’t live anywhere with shopping within walking distance for the next couple of decades.
Come on… clearly the Honda Prius (from Latin)
I feel like the Honda Epilogue would be more fitting, considering we’re seemingly at the end of development for traditional personal automobiles. Vehicles (like almost everything these days) are extensions of digital networked technology now, and will further evolve in that direction. Reminder that an epilogue just means “scenes after the end of the story”, not “the story has definitively ended and you can never add onto it ever again.”
Make the last ICE car the Coda
Wasn’t there already some tiny EV based on a Chinese sedan called the Coda that was sold in the U.S. like a decade ago?
Sure was. Aging Wheels on YouTube has a bunch of videos about his Coda fleet.
Cars will take a different place in our lives. The Epilogue could be augmented with the Honda Epilady®, with sticky vinyl seats standard and no pre-cooling option so driver and passengers could step out of the car looking and feeling their smoothest and most pre-pubescent (Hey! That’s another one!) best.
That’s Life! The Honda That’s used the Honda Life’s platform and engine.
Honda Preparation H…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFkIZ-Zf32Y
I feel that name sounds good… on the hole…
Honda Foreplay
Honda Appetizer
Came to say foreplay. Saw someone else did. Left satisfied
And if they ever “upgrade” the Ridgeline into a brodozer, they can name it the Honda Amuse Douche.
The Honda Foreplay spent way too long in development. While half the team was pleased with the attention being paid, the other half left to work on the Honda Premature, leaving the first half unsatisfied with the end result.
The Presage was a Nissan minivan built from 1998 to 2009 in 2 generations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Presage
Changed my wife’s Honda Fit badges to Honda Jazz a few weeks ago. I’ve always known they were called that elsewhere, but it wasn’t until we were in Europe recently and I made her privy. Saying “Honda Jazz” involves a mandatory jazz hand routine, just fyi.
With the Jazz and the Prelude they have some music themed names in the line-up. All the more reason for a Honda Overture!
PS: I know someone who plays the saxophone, and he drives a Jazz.
When you drive a Jazz, it’s not about the roads you drive, it’s the roads you don’t drive.