Honda presented the HP-X concept car at the 1984 Turin Motor Show.
Honda wanted to signal its intention to launch a mid-engined super sports car on the market. The HP-X concept car can be seen as the forerunner of the Honda NSX. Pininfarina was commissioned to design the study at the time. The result was a dramatic wedge profile and an interior design reminiscent of a fighter jet.
Following an extensive restoration at the Pininfarina workshop in Italy, the legendary Honda HP-X Concept will be exhibited in the wedge-shaped concept car and prototype class at the 73rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elégance on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
Way ahead of its time
"The Honda HP-X Concept was the star of the 1984 Turin Motor Show, showcasing elements of engineering excellence and cutting-edge design, with extreme wedge-shaped styling that continues to inspire future generations of car designers and engineers," said Dave Marek, Acura Design Executive and honorary judge of the Pebble Beach Concours.
"The pioneering HP-X had an undeniable impact on the industry and underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in automotive design."
The HP-X featured advanced aerodynamics with ground-effect approaches and innovative cooling solutions for its mid-mounted two-liter DOHC four-valve V6, which was based on a Honda F2 racing engine. There were no doors, instead the futuristic concept featured a removable, one-piece Plexiglas hood in the style of a jet fighter. The rear part of the hood merged into a fairing that served two main functions: it improved the streamlined appearance of the vehicle and acted as a driver-controlled air brake.
In addition, the HP-X explored the innovative use of alternative materials such as sandwich panels, carbon fiber and Kevlar to reduce weight and improve performance.
Thanks to extensive styling research, the interior of the HP-X has set new standards in terms of comfort, ergonomics and function. An "Electronic Drive Support System" developed by Honda gave a taste of advanced features such as real-time telemetry, GPS and even warnings about road conditions using "special sonar" technologies that are now commonplace.
"The Honda HP-X is an ideal example of Pininfarina's unique ability to present innovative ideas in the form of concept cars that set future trends," said Felix Kilbertus, Chief Creative Officer of Pininfarina. "At Pininfarina, we strive to infuse our values of design excellence into every project to ensure that the essence of the brand we work with remains intact as we look confidently to the future. The HP-X may not have gone into production, but its influence on subsequent Honda models and the wider automotive landscape is undeniable. It is a testament to the innovative spirit of Honda and Pininfarina and inspires future developments in the automotive industry."
From the HP-X to the NSX
The HP-X concept car was developed with the goal of advancing technology and served as a test bed for ambitious new ideas, technologies and design principles that would be used in later Honda and Acura models, most notably the two-seat, mid-engine NSX that debuted just a few years later.
Designed and developed in Japan, the first-generation NSX embodied many of the ideas and innovations first explored in the HP-X, confirming the concept's importance in automotive history.
Incidentally, the Honda HP-X was also presented at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show on the Honda stand.
Dimensions of the Honda HP-X:
Length: 4,160 mm
Width: 1,780 mm
Height: 1,110 mm
