- Italdesign has refreshed the Honda/Acura NSX that was axed in ’22.
- Roof snorkel is inspired by NSX R GT, and there’s a hoop-style wing.
- Production will be very limited, and all builds will be right-hand drive.
It feels like the NSX is suddenly back in fashion. Only weeks after Pininfarina reimagined the original supercar upsetter, Italdesign has turned its attention to the second-generation NSX, built from 2016 through 2022, with styling loosely inspired by the original, and this one even has approval from Honda itself.
Called the NSX Tribute by Italdesign, the new car debuted at the Tokyo Auto Salon, and a handful will eventually find their way into owners’ hands, all right-hand drive. The famous design house takes customer cars and gives them a full visual and aerodynamic rethink inspired by the original first-generation NSX and its more obscure special editions.
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Italdesign describes the Tribute as a forward-looking homage rather than a nostalgic exercise. The idea is to merge memory and innovation into a single design language rooted in both Japanese engineering and Italian craftsmanship.
The Roof Sucks
The exterior design does most of the talking, the roof scoop referencing the rare NSX R GT, and the rear wing being a reinterpretation of the original floating spoiler concept. There are subtle eyelids that hint at the NA1’s pop-up headlights without trying to recreate them, and aerodynamic pieces that seem to be functional rather than just theatrical.
Inside, the changes are gentler. There are new trims, bespoke materials, and small references to F1 icon Ayrton Senna, who helped tune the first car.
No mention in the press material is made of whether any work has been carried out on the hybrid-assisted 3.5-liter bi-turbo V6. The stock 2017-22 NSXs pumped out 573 hp (581 PS), which was boosted to 602 hp (610 PS) for the 2021-22 Type S.
Ultra limited and Ultra Expensive
Italdesign has not said how many cars will be built, only that it will be an ultra-limited series. Given its history with projects like the $1.1 million Nissan GT-R50, nobody expects this to be cheap or common. But that’s a huge part of the appeal for wealthy Honda fans. Would you take one of these over Pininfarina’s reworked first-gen NSX?
