The second-generation Honda/Acura NSX never really got the love it deserved. Was it as iconic or thrilling as the original? No. But it was still an excellent supercar with good looks and a very advanced (for the time) hybrid system that made it incredibly quick.
While the original NSX continues to maintain its icon status, with values for used examples rising by the day, it feels like the second-gen model has faded from the spotlight. But thanks to a new project from Italian design firm Italdesign, it’s being thrust back into the conversation.
Officially dubbed the Honda NSX Tribute by Italdesign, this new project is the latest in a growing trend of “few-offs,” a growing trend of ultra-limited models released by niche or high-end brands. It’s based on the second-generation NSX, meant to celebrate of trio of recent anniversaries for milestones achieved by Honda: 60 years since Honda won its first F1 race, 35 years since the NSX debuted in Chicago, and 30 years since the NSX took a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
As for whether the Italdesign version looks better than the plain-jane hybrid NSX, well, I’m not so sure.
From Some Angles Yes, From Others…
At first glance, you might not even be able to tell this tribute is based on the most recent NSX variant, at least from the rear. The back end has been totally redone with new panels and a fixed rear wing. That singular taillight, which travels from the central part of the upper bumper, through the uprights, and into the spoiler, is called a “floating ring.” It’s meant as a callback to the original car’s rear end, though to me, it doesn’t quite get there. It’s more interesting to look at than a standard second-gen NSX, at least.
Up front is where things might get confusing for some. The video above shows that the headlights from the second-gen NSX are a full carry-over, meaning from head-on, the Italdesign car doesn’t look much different at all, despite the new bumper and the red H badge (a tribute to the original NSX-R, which also had a red badge).
In pictures, the main portion of the headlight is covered, which greatly changes the look. Here’s how Italdesign explains it:
At the front, the headlamp clusters are set in a glossy black fairing that emphasizes the car’s ‘gaze,’ creating contrast with the surrounding surfaces, adding depth and reinforcing the perception of precision and sportiness. The eyelids replace the pop-up solution of the first generation and are treated stylistically with a contemporary language.
If you watch closely in the video (at around the 0:13 mark), you can see that the covers actually retract up and into the hood area, which is pretty cool. An Italdesign rep told me this happens automatically when the vehicle is switched on. Not as cool as proper popups, but cool nonetheless.
From the side, you can really see how Italdesign really leaned into the black-and-white two-tone scheme made famous on the original NSX. The side skirts, the lower diffuser area, the side blades on the front fenders, and the roof are all glossy black. The wheels are black, too, but they’re accented by some red on the center caps and the rubber. The big roof scoop might disrupt the car’s general design flow, but I like it. Not only is it a nice tribute to the NSX-R GT, but roof scoops are just cool.
The Inside Is Barely Different
Reconfiguring the interior of a car as modern as the second-generation NSX would take lots of time, money, and expertise. Italdesign, being a relatively small entity, probably didn’t have to resources to make the tribute car’s cabin look like the original’s, which is totally understandable. Layout-wise, it’s virtually unchanged, with a centrally located mode knob and shifter buttons under the touchscreen.
One thing to note if you, dear reader, are considering purchasing a Honda NSX Tribute by Italdesign: This was the era of Honda where it tried to eliminate volume knobs. The one thing that drove me crazy about driving the second-gen NSX was that the volume was controlled via a touch-capactive panel to the left of the screen. Sadly, that panel seems to have survived through Italdesign’s transformation. Just something to think about before you buy.
Otherwise, the interior looks to be a nice place to spend time. The original trim has been removed for new material with contrast stitching everywhere. Also note the “NSX Tribute by Italdesign” badge stickered to the passenger-side dashboard panel.
Italdesign hasn’t released many details about the tribute’s powertrain, though it’s safe to assume the car has retained its trick hybrid powertrain, which employs a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 and three electric motors—one between the engine and the dual-clutch transmission, and one for each front wheel. Whether it’ll make the same total 573 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque is unclear.
The firm also hasn’t released any details on production numbers, delivery dates, or pricing. Used second-gen NSXs are hovering around $120,000 at the low end, so figure you’ll need to front at least that much to get the ball rolling. Also, Italdesign is only building these things in right-hand drive configuration, which might make it a bit more difficult for U.S. buyers to get their hands on one. If Italdesign were really dedicated to its North American buyers, it’d take a U.S.-market Acura NSXs and convert them to right-hand drive, just to commit to the design.
Top graphic image: Italdesign, Honda
The results are not questionable, they are unquestionably shitty.
The interior is trying though.
Looks like the byproduct of a drunken tryst between a 2nd gen NSX and a Subaru CrossTrek.
Am I the only one who actually liked the new NSX? Like, sure, it’s not as beautiful as the original, but you can’t just completely copy the original formula and recreate a car developed in the 80’s. It doesn’t work that way. Aside from the taillight treatment on the Italdesign version, there’s nothing about this that says “NA1 NSX”. It just looks like a cobbled-together generic supercar. I’d much rather have the Honda designed version.
You are the only one indeed.
I’m ok with that.
The tech wasn’t exactly ground breaking. The hybrid hypercar trio did everything the NA2 did a few years before and with headline breaking numbers.
The NA2 took that same tech just to end up not faster, not more frugal, and certainly not more exciting than contemporary cars like Porsche 992.1 Turbo, McLaren 570S and even the several-years old at this point Nissan GTR.
Keiichi Tsuchiya was a Honda fanboy (driving for and eventually running their GT500 team) and hated how the NA2 drove on track (though he did like it on the street).
My understanding is that the original NSX’ performance has never been much to write home about. And if Chris Harris’ review of the 2nd gen is any indication – that one performed admirably.
It’s just how they look. We were talking looks.
The NA2 made my heart skip a bit every time I looked at it – outside or in.
The other one didn’t.
My bad I meant the NC1/2, not the NA2. NA2 is the good one.
Sorry NC1/2 not NA2. NA2 was the facelift of the original and was great.
I saw it on Dino DC’s feature of TAS. Thought it looked pretty hot! Still photos don’t really do it justice
I don’t see the connection to the first gen. I don’t think it’s horrible to look at either. It’s… fine. The chance of me buying one correlates pretty closely to the chance of me winning the lottery so *shrug*.
I’m going to start sounding like a broken record more and more, but I would kill to have an image gallery attached to articles like this. Multiple views of the gen 1, gen 2, and this concept to really compare design motifs and see what changed and what didn’t.
It would greatly improve time on page. I know licensing may be an issue without a huge back catalog of in-house content, but surely Honda would be happy to share photos from their library?
A gallery and, if I maybe so greedy, a standard to include vehicle information in every image caption!
Accessibility, SEO, and just basic understanding of which part of the article the image is meant to relate to would all benefit.
Would especially be helpful for articles showing a whole history of various generations/models, but then all the pics are just “Source: manufacturer”.
Coming soon to a Gran Turismo DLC near you. It’ll be 436pp, drive exactly like the old NSX you won in a dubious roulette only slower and cost 1,000,000 cr. to “own” in your garage.
Thanks a lot!
Looks like a GTA supercar. The wheels aren’t helping.
It looks like a c8, what with the bad intakes and whatnot.
I’d still rather have a normal 1st gen nsx.
With projects like this, I often get the feeling that the designer had a bunch of unrelated pent-up feature ideas that they really wanted to do over the last few years, and they just use the project as an outlet, without much regard for the cohesion or continuity of the final piece.
I can tell the designer is passionate about hideaway headlights and paper airplanes, but I get very little indication that they have any feelings about this car.
Edit: Actually, I can feel that the designer was simultaneously angry at the new car for having hard points and at the old one for having design elements at all. I see so many elements applied in spite of the car, the messages I get are “that’ll show them, forcing me to repurpose my beautiful original sketch for a tribute to this ugly thing” and “how dare they put a rear bumper beam on my beautiful design, I’ll have to turn it into a detached floating feature. I think I have a sketch for one somewhere…”. Whoever designed this car hates both versions of the NSX, you can’t convince me otherwise.
I need someone to photoshop all the NSX-adjacent features off of this car, I bet it’s actually cohesive without them.
Don’t understand the hate. If I had the money, I’d go for this big time. It’s just a body kit, folks (better be a damn good one, but still).
If it is, and I’m not saying it’s not, why is it RHD only? That’s the biggest wtf about the whole thing.
Good question!
I see people aren’t very interested in this.
Question: What would we want it to look like and have as a NSX?
I would love to see something with 400hp and a manual. Something that competes on price with a 911 or even a Cayman GTS 4.0 or Lotus Emira.
They can make a 3.5L V6 DOHC naturally aspirated engine make 400 HP.
What would you want in a New NSX?
Pretty much what you said, but I actually would be quite happy to see it with a turbo 4 and 300hp if it could compete in price with a Z06. The CTR drivetrain is highly praised for its character and performance, and it’s lightweight. Make the hybrid system optional or ditch it altogether, and focus on sharp, RWD chassis dynamics. As for looks, I think Acura/Honda’s styling has matured a lot since the 2nd-gen NSX came out, and if they used the current styling language with restraint it would be a winner.
It looks great in a very generic supercar-type of way.
This might sound like heresy, but even the 1st gen NSX kind of had generic supercar styling. But in a good way, of course.
Roof scoops are cool. It’s one of my favourite things about my Europa.
As a huge fan of the original NSX, and hugely ambivalent about the second one I’m confused by this terrible concept thing. It’s worse than the car I don’t want and doesn’t remind me at all of the car I do want.
Having just seen a first gen NSX on the road this past weekend, I have to agree that this thing bears little resemblance. The simple lines of the original are just soooo much more elegant. The modern need for designers to slap aero bits, ducts, and creases all over cars needs to die. Less is more design folks!
Just curious what one of these design houses (and The Bishop) would do with the C8 Corvette. Maybe throw out a few stylistic variants – Brutalist, Postmodern retro, 90s, 70s…
I’d be far more interested in what The Bishop or Adrian could do versus the modern design houses. In fact, I think we need a monthly (or even quarterly) Design Off in which they are given a specific design challenge and we residents of Autopia get to vote on a winner. Chicken dinner optional.
For the first challenge, rebody a C8 into a 70s-style concept car.
A quick search shows that in 2002 there was a Corvette Moray by Italdesign, so it could be time for a 25th anniversary?
Damn, I was writing out the check and then you mentioned the volume comtrol. Forget it.
Italdesign should have hired The Bishop.
I much prefer JAS/Pininfarina’s take, even though I don’t particularly care for that one either.
it is like spitting into Michelle Christensen’s face and saying: you made a turd that aged awfully so we are here to fix it….
by the way they fixed nothing
Weird.
Honda design peaked with the NSX through the S2000. It’s all been downhill from there, perhaps reaching it’s nadir with the tenth generation Civic and it’s plethora of fake vents. I would also accept the Crosstour as the bottom of the barrel.
*bottom of the barrel so far!
Nah, that’s a deal breaker for me. I will take my $536 “fun car” savings somewhere else, thank you very much.
I think the implication is that the “eyelids” do indeed move to uncover the lighting elements, much like the Karma in yesterday’s article.
Did they give this to the interns to keep them busy? The front looks like a generic Honda and the rear haunches look terrible and cheap.
It’s…inoffensive and about what I expect from a modern supercar concept. Skinny LED taillights and all.
The front end is definitely an upgrade, but the rear end looks awkward and super forced. Nothing they could ever do could beat the simplicity and elegance of the NA1 NSX.
My thoughts exactly. The front looks better, the sides look fine, and the rear end is awful. All in all, it wholly missed the mark in trying to recall the simplicity-with-nuance design of the original that made it an all-time classic.