Pininfarina Reimagines the Honda NSX as an Italian Supercar
The Honda NSX, known as the Acura NSX in North America, has always been a Japanese icon. But its deepest roots trace back to Italy. Now, four decades after sketching the concept that inspired it, the legendary design house Pininfarina is finishing the job. They are turning the first-generation NSX into a proper Italian supercar.
The project finally has a name. It’s called Tensei.
That name, Japanese for “rebirth,” perfectly captures the mission. In partnership with Honda’s long-time racing partner, JAS Motorsport, Pininfarina is creating an ultra-limited, modern interpretation of the beloved 1990s classic. After a quiet preview for select clients at Fuji Raceway, the Tensei is now being discussed more openly, pointing toward a full reveal in the near future.
A Story 40 Years in the Making
While Honda’s own Masahito Nakano and Shigeru Uehara are credited with the final production design of the NSX, the car’s mid-engine DNA started elsewhere. It began with the 1984 Honda HP-X concept car. That vehicle was penned entirely in Italy by Pininfarina, establishing the fundamental layout that Honda would later refine into the world-beating NSX.
It seems Pininfarina never quite let go of that original vision. The Tensei project feels like a circle closing, an opportunity for the Italian studio to apply its modern design language to a silhouette it helped create. The result, based on initial glimpses, is stunning. The Tensei is recognizably an NSX, but its form has been sharpened, lowered, and widened. It possesses an aesthetic confidence that feels uniquely Italian, with taut surfaces that avoid being over-styled.
More Than a Makeover: Competition-Grade Engineering
This is not just a cosmetic exercise. JAS Motorsport, a firm with decades of experience building winning Honda race cars, is handling all mechanical aspects. They promise the Tensei will feature competition-grade technology, elevating it far beyond a typical restomod.
The visual clues support this claim. Pininfarina’s sleek new carbon-fiber bodywork covers a much wider track. Behind the new wheels, massive brakes are clearly visible, hinting at serious stopping power to match what will surely be a significant performance increase. Key details we know so far include:
- Chassis: First-generation Honda NSX base.
- Bodywork: Custom carbon-fiber design by Pininfarina.
- Engineering: Full mechanical overhaul by JAS Motorsport.
- Core Formula: A naturally aspirated V6 engine and a manual gearbox are expected to remain.
JAS Motorsport’s involvement ensures the Tensei’s performance will match its dramatic looks, focusing on a high-revving engine and track-ready components rather than just a simple power boost.
An Unexpected Italian Showdown
Pininfarina’s work won’t be the only NSX tribute arriving soon. In a fascinating twist, another famed Italian design house, Italdesign, has announced its own reinterpretation of the Japanese classic. While Italdesign’s teasers have been far more cryptic, showing little more than a rear light signature, the announcement sets the stage for a friendly rivalry.
Two of Italy’s most respected automotive design firms are now competing to re-express one of Japan’s most revered sports cars. This unexpected development alone guarantees that 2026 will be a very interesting year for NSX fans around the world, as they get to see two different Italian perspectives on a singular Japanese legend.
More official details on the Pininfarina Tensei are expected to surface in early 2026. A full reveal is planned ahead of an extremely limited production run set to take place in Milan, Italy. The automotive world will be watching closely as this rebirth takes its final shape.