Since the original Forza Motorsport on Xbox, a persistent issue has plagued fans of the Honda Prelude Car within the game: a noticeably deformed car model. This problem, echoing modeling inaccuracies seen in early Forza titles, renders the beloved Prelude in a less-than-ideal digital form. The dimensions and overall shape of the in-game Prelude car deviate significantly from the real-world vehicle, impacting the visual fidelity and authenticity for players.
Front view of the deformed Honda Prelude BB6 car model in Forza Motorsport, highlighting oversized wheels and disproportionate front end.
Side profile comparison of the inaccurate Forza Motorsport Honda Prelude BB6 model versus a real-world Prelude, emphasizing roof height and window line discrepancies.
One of the most immediately apparent issues with the Prelude car model in Forza is its stance. The wheels appear significantly oversized, giving the entire vehicle an unnatural, stilted appearance. This elevation throws off the car’s proportions and contributes to a general sense of visual awkwardness. Furthermore, the front end of the digital Prelude suffers from several inaccuracies. The front bumper appears too small and compressed, while conversely, the headlights are modeled as disproportionately large. The body line of the car lacks the refined, rounded contours of the actual Honda Prelude, appearing somewhat shapeless and blocky in comparison. Adding to these discrepancies, the roofline of the in-game model is too tall, and the side windows are not only too small but also fail to follow the correct, sleek lines of the genuine Prelude car.
Rear perspective of the Forza Motorsport Prelude car model showcasing sharp edges, incorrect bumper, and inaccurate taillight details.
Close-up of the rear taillights and bumper of the Forza Prelude, pointing out the deviations from the real Honda Prelude design.
Moving to the rear of the car, the inaccuracies continue. The rear end of the Forza Motorsport Prelude, much like the front, lacks the proper curvature. Instead, it exhibits sharp, unnatural edges that are not present on the real-life vehicle. The rear bumper is particularly flawed, standing out as egregiously incorrect in its shaping and details. Similarly, the internal components of the taillights are inaccurately represented. Compounding the wheel size issue, the default stock wheels, unchangeable in diameter within the game, further exaggerate the oversized wheel appearance, detracting from the overall realism of the Prelude car.
Detailed view of the enlarged panel gaps and incorrectly shaped exhaust on the Forza Motorsport Prelude car model.
Side marker and indicator detail of the Forza Prelude in-game model, highlighting incorrect amber/white marker light placement.
Beyond the major shape discrepancies, smaller details also contribute to the overall inaccuracy of the Prelude car model. The panel gaps across the body are noticeably wider than they should be on a production Honda Prelude. The exhaust system is incorrectly shaped, further diminishing the model’s authenticity. A minor but noticeable detail is the incorrect placement of the side indicators, which are incorrectly grouped with the front side markers. The side markers, which should be amber in color, are also incorrectly rendered as white in the game model.
Finally, the available factory colors and aftermarket body kits for this iteration of the Prelude car in Forza Motorsport are also reported to be inaccurate. While further visual evidence is needed to fully document these color and body kit issues, existing observations already point to a significant need for improvement. The current BB6 Prelude Type SH model is in dire need of a complete remodel to accurately represent this iconic car. Alternatively, replacing it with a model based on a different trim level of the 5th generation Prelude, such as the JDM SiR which was featured in earlier Forza Motorsport titles (Forza Motorsport 2-4), could offer a more accurate and appreciated representation of the Prelude car for fans and players alike.
