Acura NSX Returns With Ultra-Limited Redesign
▼ Summary
– Italdesign, a design firm, has revealed a heavily refreshed “Honda NSX Tribute,” a new body style for the second-generation Acura/Honda NSX, showcased through renders and an animated video.
– The second-generation NSX (2016-2022) is much rarer than the first, with only about 3,000 units produced compared to roughly 19,000 of the original model.
– This project is a “few-off” design exercise primarily meant to showcase Italdesign’s capabilities, not a mass-market product, though an ultra-limited production run is suggested.
– The design team aimed to merge the original NSX’s racing DNA with contemporary styling, focusing on aerodynamics, sleek proportions, and a modern reinterpretation of the interior.
– Italdesign will display the NSX Tribute at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, indicating it is part of a broader promotional campaign for the brand.
Italdesign occupies a fascinating niche within the automotive industry, operating primarily as a behind-the-scenes design and engineering firm for major brands while occasionally stepping into the spotlight with its own stunning collaborative projects. The latest example is the Honda NSX Tribute by Italdesign, a dramatic reimagining of the second-generation hybrid supercar. This “few-off project” presents a heavily refreshed aesthetic, showcased through a series of compelling renderings and an animated video that throws back to classic racing games and honors F1 icon Ayrton Senna.
For enthusiasts, the NSX lineage is legendary. The original 1990s wedge-shaped masterpiece, famously associated with Senna, was followed by a fixed-headlight update. After a long hiatus, the second-generation model arrived for 2016. This Ohio-built hybrid supercar was a technological marvel but proved exceedingly rare, with only around 3,000 units produced compared to nearly 19,000 of the first generation. The new Italdesign tribute effectively creates a fourth, semi-official body style for the nameplate, endorsed by Honda but existing more as a showcase of capability than a mass-market product.
The company’s media release describes an “ultra-limited series production,” hinting that at least two right-hand-drive examples are intended for completion. Pricing remains undisclosed, but based on Italdesign’s previous collaboration like the Nissan GT-R50, prospective buyers should anticipate a cost well exceeding one million dollars. The logistical details, whether owners would send in their own NSXs for conversion or if Italdesign will source vehicles, are still unclear. This isn’t a typical tuning operation, so don’t expect your local Acura dealership to have answers.
The design team at Italdesign provided detailed insights into their philosophy. They aimed to merge memory with innovation, preserving the original car’s racing DNA while injecting contemporary styling and advanced engineering solutions. The tribute is not a restomod or a purely nostalgic exercise. Designers worked on the car’s musculature for added tension and dynamism, reintroducing the low, sleek proportions of the original model. Key elements include a glossy black fairing around the headlamps to emphasize the car’s “gaze,” and aerodynamic components like spoilers and diffusers designed to maximize performance without sacrificing expressiveness.
Inside, the inspiration draws from the double cockpit of the first-generation NSX, reinterpreted with a modern, wraparound approach that incorporates elements inspired by Formula 1 single-seaters, creating a strong connection between driver and passenger.
Italdesign will showcase this project at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January 2026, suggesting the NSX Tribute is part of a broader campaign to highlight the brand’s creative and technical prowess. While it’s thrilling to see the NSX name return in such a bold form, this iteration is ultimately a rolling sculpture, a testament to artistic and engineering skill meant for ultra-exclusive appreciation rather than the open road.
(Source: The Dive)
