Two famous cars seem set to be revived as electric sizzlers.

PRELUDE and MR2 appear set to come back to life - as rakish electric cars.

Honda and Toyota have used the Tokyo Motor/Mobility Show to unveil concepts that point to battery-pure reinvigoration for their respective past classic performance models that used to hold important image-building status, but were retired in petrol form years ago. 

Toyota dropped the MR2 in 2007 while the last Prelude was introduced more than two decades ago; the line started in 1978 and spanned five generations.

Honda has restored the name to a design study. Toyota hasn’t gone quite that far. the concept it showed overnight is officially called FT-Se. But it patently inspired by the ‘mid-engined roadster two-seater (hence, MR2) of yore.

Honda president and chief executive Toshihiro Mibe has made clear his “speciality sports model” concept previews a future production model, saying: “This model will become the prelude to a future model. It will take the joy of driving into the fully fledged electric future, and embody Honda’s automotive sports mindset.”

Toyota Japan is also dropping fat hints about FT-Se being a car for the future driving. Interestingly, all the same, it was the only one of four electric concepts on display that wasn’t expressly picked by Toyota New Zealand boss Neeraj Lala, who is at the show, as a car Kiwis should keep any eye on.

He has suggested the FT-3e (above), a next-gen crossover-style concept also pictured here, plus the EPU full-electric dual-cab utility and the Land Cruiser Se, a refined all-electric take on the flagship SUV (both featured yesterday) are more relevant.

In respect to the Se - shorthand for ‘sports electric’ - products Lala says they are “not just cars. They are versatile solutions tailored for diverse needs.”

The FT-Se and FT-3e share a common architecture and power train. 

The cars are also a shop window for Toyota's new energy-dense, but slim 'Performance' lithium-ion battery pack. 

At 100mm tall, the battery is half the height of the battery in the bZ4X SUV arriving here in early 2024.

In respect to FT-Se, Toyota can deliver the squat styling reminiscent of Toyota midship motors of old and a low centre of gravity. The new battery is 40 percent cheaper to produce than current technology allows and also gives the FT-Se a range of nearly 800km, Toyota says.

The make also says handling can be refined using over-the-air Arene software updates. An interior shot (above) seems to suggest it will be paddle-shifted, the car's nonetheless rumoured to get a manual gearbox and technology that emulates a mechanical clutch, with torque dips between 'gear' changes. Toyota could even programme the car to stall if it's not driven smoothly, rewarding good driving.

The Prelude’s exterior appears completely production ready but Honda has yet to share any images of the model’s interior, and also any details of its powertrain and battery characteristics.

The Prelude concept was profiled alongside two other vehicles; the Cruise Origin autonomous ride-sharing vehicle and Sustaina-C Concept. The former is an autonomous ride-sharing vehicle and the latter is an electric hatchback with more than a passing resemblance to Honda’s City small car from the 1980s..