Honda's First Concept Car from the '80s to Debut at 2024 Monterey Car Week

The Genesis of the HP-X Concept

The Honda HP-X, designed by the renowned Italian design firm Pininfarina, marked Honda's entry into the world of concept cars. This innovative vehicle not only represented Honda's first foray into concept car design but also laid the foundation for what would eventually become the legendary NSX.

A Vision of Exotic Performance

By the early 1980s, Honda was poised to make a significant impact in the automotive world. With its entry into the Formula 1 championship in 1983, Honda had the resources and ambition to develop a supercar that could compete with Europe’s finest. Seeking an exciting and forward-thinking design, Honda collaborated with Pininfarina to create the HP-X, short for “Honda Pininfarina eXperimental.” This naming convention would later influence the NSX, which stands for “New Sportscar eXperimental.”

Debut and Innovations

The HP-X made its global debut at the 1984 Turin Auto Show, featuring a 2.0-liter V-6 engine borrowed from a Formula 2 race car. One of its most striking features was a jet-fighter style canopy made from Perspex, replacing conventional doors.

Beyond its stunning design, the HP-X was a testbed for advanced materials and technologies. It incorporated honeycomb panels, carbon fiber, and Kevlar to reduce weight, and experimented with early forms of GPS, real-time telemetry, and a sonar-based system for road condition warnings.

Evolution to the NSX

Throughout the remainder of the 1980s, Honda refined the HP-X's design, leading to the debut of the NS-X concept at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show. This evolution culminated in the production of the NSX just a year later, a car that would become a benchmark for performance and reliability.

The restored HP-X will be presented on August 18 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it will participate in the Wedge-Shaped Concept Cars and Prototypes Class. The Concours is the highlight of Monterey Car Week, which runs from August 9-18 this year, attracting car enthusiasts from around the world.

This presentation of the HP-X not only celebrates Honda's rich history in automotive innovation but also offers a glimpse into the pioneering spirit that continues to drive the brand today.