1999 HONDA PRELUDE - FOR DRIVERS WHO WON'T
COMPROMISE PERFORMANCE OR QUALITY
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TORRANCE, Calif. - If you want to enjoy the drive as much as the destination, you want to get there in the 1999 Honda Prelude sports coupe. Its sophisticated styling, nimble handling and responsive performance add up to fun, while its quality heritage delivers confidence.

For 1999, the Prelude's 2.2-liter, DOHC, VTEC (variable valve timing and lift electronic control) engine gets a 5-horsepower boost, bringing it to 200-hp with manual transmission and 195-hp with the 4-speed automatic. Drivers with the automatic can also enjoy hands-on control, using Honda's Sequential SportShift which allows the option of manually changing the gears. The service interval on this high-tech engine has been lengthened to 100,000 miles before a major tune-up.

Other additions for 1999 include a keyless entry system, micron interior air filtration system, new mesh-style grille, interior fabric and color choices.

What hasn't changed for 1999 is Honda's dedication to quality and dependability. The Prelude topped its segment in both the 1998 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Survey (IQS2) and Customer Satisfaction Index study. In addition, San Diego based Strategic Vision gave Prelude top ranking for its class.

Performance and Handling

Honda's smooth-shifting 5-speed manual transmission is standard on Prelude and Prelude Type SH models. The optional 4-speed automatic transmission with Sequential SportShift (not available on Type SH), also features Honda's Grade Logic Control System.

Prelude's athletic prowess starts with its 4-wheel double-wishbone suspension. Honda Progressive Valve (HPV) shocks, front and rear stabilizer bars and 16-inch wheels and tires minimize body roll and sharpen handling.

The Prelude Type SH benefits from Honda's innovative Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS). ATTS reduces vehicle understeer by adjusting power to the front driving wheels during turns, creating nearly neutral comering.

Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system (ABS) are standard on Prelude.

Safety and Comfort

Other advanced safety features include impact-absorbing front and rear bumpers, dual airbags, an energy-absorbing steering column and instrument panel, and 3-point seat belts.

Prelude is engineered with energy-absorbing front and rear crush zones that help to dissipate collision energy in an impact. Prelude meets or exceeds federal standards for full-frontal, angled-frontal, offset-frontal, side and full-rear impacts.

The 1999 Prelude is protected by a state-of-the-art "lmmobilizer" anti-theft system. When the driver inserts the ignition key, a digitally coded radio signal is transmitted instantaneously to the Immobilizer's control unit. If the key is recognized, the car starts. Improper attempts to start the car will automatically disable the engine's fuel injection and ignition systems, reducing the threat of theft.

Prelude's impressive list of standard equipment includes power windows, mirrors and door locks; cruise control; air conditioning; power moonroof with tilt feature; adjustable steering column; a height adjustable drivers seat; 12-volt power outlet; front and rear cup holders; and 6-speaker, AM/FM/CD stereo system. Prelude Type SH adds a rear spoiler and a leather-covered shift knob.

The Prelude's stereo system features a 120-waft Acoustic Feedback (AFB) System for outstanding sound quality. A small built-in microphone in one of the rear speakers samples ambient cabin noise and compares it with the original electronic signal. The AFB automatically corrects the signal to compensate for any distortion - resulting in exceptional sound quality.

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