Honda Prelude Concept, Next Ford Expedition and The Grand Tour vs Top Gear [Ask Nathan]

2014 detroit auto show video tfl talk

In this week’s Ask Nathan:

  • Will there be a Honda Prelude Concept at the 2017 NAIAS?
  • What will be different on the next Ford Expedition?
  • Choose: The Grand Tour vs Top Gear!

This first question comes from a fan who wants to know if there will be a Honda Prelude Concept at the 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS/Detroit Auto Show).

2018-honda-prelude-concept
Honda Prelude Concept Image via Top Honda .com

Q: Hi Nathan. I used to have a 1997 Honda Prelude and it was the best car I ever owned.

My sister got the car when she went to college a few years back and it still runs amazing. I replaced the clutch twice and the front brakes once. I did that over 200 thousand miles. That’s amazing and it still drives great.

I know Honda builds the Accord Coupe and Civic Coupe, but I hear that there may be a Honda Prelude Concept at the 2017 Detroit Autoshow (2017 NAIAS). Do you know anything about it?

Please let me know.

Thanks!

Pete

2018 honda odyssey design sketch

A: Hi Pete, thanks for the email!

While there’s been nothing official from Honda, I do have a few thoughts on the subject.

First: Honda is going to do a North American unveiling of the next Honda Odyssey at the 2017 NAIAS. As such, they would never dilute the unveiling of the Odyssey with anything that would upstage it. I think a Honda Prelude Concept would do just that.

With that being said, perhaps Honda would consider unveiling something like a Honda Prelude Concept at another auto show? If Honda was, indeed, looking at something as big as a new concept Prelude, they would (probably) look at their home turf in October of 2017.

Now, IF they considered building a Honda Prelude Concept, what purpose would it serve? Would it be a sportier front-drive option over the Civic Type R? Would it slot between the Civic Coupe and Accord Coupe? I just don’t see a logical business case to build one.

Glad to hear you have fond memories of your Honda Prelude; however, I think the likelihood of Honda building a new one is remote.

I wish I had something positive to add.

N

This next question comes from a viewer who wants to know about the next Ford Expedition.

Expedition First Drive

Q:What is going on with the Ford Expedition?

I saw a Lincoln Navigator concept which looked silly, but there’s been no word on what Ford is doing with the Ford Expedition. Do you know?

Thanks, Billy

A: Howdy Billy!

There are four things that (we think) the next Ford Expedition will have:

  1. Following in the footsteps of the Ford F-150, the skin of the next Ford Expedition may be aluminum. This would help the Ford Expedition with power delivery, handling and economy.
  2. The new 10-speed automatic transmission should find its way into the next Ford Expedition. This will help with performance and economy.
  3. We’re expecting two different sizes for the next Ford Expedition, sizes that would make the next Ford Expedition more competitive with the General Motors large SUVs.
  4. The next Ford Expedition should get either the new EcoBoost engine found in the new Ford Raptor, or (possibly) the new, smaller displacement V8 Ford is about to unveil.

Cheers!

N

The Grand Tour Moroccan Roll

The last question comes from a fan wants TFL’s take on The Grand Tour vs Top Gear.

Q: Hi TFLcar and TFLtruck!

Choose the better show, The Grand Tour or Top Gear!

BBK

top_gear_season_24_trailer

A: Hi BBK!

All of the folks at team TFL are big fans of both shows. While I can’t answer for Roman and Andre, I am bit biased.

As amazing and fun The Grand Tour is to watch, I am a fan of Rory Reid on the new Top Gear as he reminds me how much fun it is to do this job. Clarkson, Hammond and May are television stars having fun with cars, and they are a gas to watch. It is great fun to watch The Grand Tour and I look forward to seeing it each Friday, but it seems like they no longer enjoy the journalistic aspect of the automotive world. They all seem a tad burnt out, like they are trying to entertain along old guidelines they find tedious.

Maybe it’s just me.

I suspect Top Gear will get back to reviewing cars humans can afford, on top of the spectacle and silliness. I am hopeful that the next season of Top Gear will get back to its roots and, with Chris Harris alongside Matt LeBlanc, Rory Reid et al – we may see something special.

Once again, I am being hopeful.

Cheers!

N

p.s. The Namibia special on The Grand Tour was a lot of fun to watch and I highly recommend it!

Here’s the next video episode of “Ask Nathan!”

Nathan and The Fast Lane Car team are here to answer your (reasonable) questions. Interesting and/or entertaining emails will be posted to this column. If it’s relevant in the automotive universe, there’s a chance we may know something about it. The author’s email address and name will be omitted – leaving your initials or nickname, your preference.

From day one, The Fast Lane Car has made it our policy to answer as many questions and comments as we can. We get thousands of emails and comments and feel that, as part of a tight-knit automotive community, having an open dialogue with you keeps things fresh and exciting.

Got a question for Nathan? Drop him a line at: asknathan@tflcar.com