Honda’s Legendary Supercar Is Having an Unexpected Italian Moment

Following the discontinuation of Honda’s facelifted second-generation NSX, there’s already been significant speculation as to what the next iteration of the iconic Japanese supercar will bring.

Previous reports had suggested that it would be an all-electric rendition that would likely be based on the 0 Series platform, although the car itself would likely not bear the legendary badge.

Of course, until Honda finally unveils what (if anything) will succeed the NSX, all we can do is wonder.

Honda

However, that’s not to say that the car’s fans are sitting idle; in the meantime, the model is already having a bit of a moment, thanks, oddly enough, to a pair of Italian design firms.

A tale of two tributes

It’s all the more interesting because it seems to be a coincidence — the two NSX revivals being staged are completely unrelated.

JAS Motorsport

Back in July, seasoned Honda tuning specialist JAS Motorsport announced that it would be creating its first road car. Apart from the fact that Pininfarina would be responsible for the styling, the outfit disclosed little else at the time.

Then, come September, another firm by the name of Italdesign made waves with the news that it would be taking to the NSX for a limited-run tribute. Having penned the GT-R50, the Italian design firm set fans’ hearts racing at the prospect of a striking Honda creation.

JAS Motorsport

Now, as it turns out, the Pininfarina and JAS Motorsport project will also be an NSX revival, and it’s set to debut early next year.

Per the two brands’ latest press materials, the car will be a “derivative of the 1990-generation Honda NSX” that will “offer enthusiasts and collectors a modern definition of the Grand Touring concept.”

However you choose to interpret the latter of those two statements, there are a few known facts at this point. Along with a full carbon fiber body, it will feature motorsport-refined components, an original “NSX-inspired V6 engine” and a six-speed manual transmission.

Italdesign

By contrast, Italdesign has offered little more than an additional teaser in the weeks since its initial announcement. However, the light design does suggest a first-generation NSX, and there does appear to be a roof scoop to feed air to the engine bay.

Pininfarina revisits the NSX

Regardless of who was ‘first’ to the NSX this go-round, this actually isn’t the first time that Pininfarina has exercised its talents to create a legendary Honda.

Honda

In fact, the Italian design firm actually penned the Big Red’s very first concept car back in 1984. Dubbed the ‘HP-X,’ it was a very era-appropriate wedge vehicle that Honda says both inspired the styling and informed the development of the first-generation NSX.  

It’s easy to see how. From the sharp front end to the large glass canopy, the HP-X and the NSX boast some striking visual similarities. There’s some clear shared DNA.

The two cars are kindred in spirit, too, as the HP-X prioritized aerodynamics, efficiency and innovative cooling over outright power. Like the first-generation NSX, the concept also featured a mid-mounted V6 engine, though it was smaller in displacement at 2.0 liters.

Honda

To each their own

The prospect of having two NSX arrivals on the horizon is nothing short of exciting. Japan’s supercar is having a moment, and it’s warranted.

Moreover, it speaks to the fact that, as much as general consumers seem content to let automation take the wheel, enthusiasts, conversely, are doubling down on driver’s cars to make them into even more capable vessels for thrill. Cars like the NSX will continue to see iteration, even as refined as they were from the factory.

Honda

Ultimately, though, each of these tributes will be able to exist concurrently, regardless of any similarities. After all, even the most saturated niches still seem to offer opportunity — a Land Rover customizer has recently expanded into the air-cooled Porsche 911 market.

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