- Honda and Pininfarina have restored the HP-X concept, Honda’s first ever concept car.
- The HP-X concept’s return to the spotlight will take place at the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in mid-August.
- The HP-X featured a mid-mounted 2.0-liter V-6 and measures just 163.8 inches long, four inches shorter than a new Toyota GR86.
Between political unrest and the ever-expanding use of seemingly omnipotent artificial intelligence, it can sometimes feel like we are living in a version of George Orwell’s 1984. But at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Honda will rewind history to 1984 in a more positive light. The Honda HP-X concept, a stunning mid-engine sports car originally revealed at the 1984 Turin auto show, has been meticulously restored and will gleam under the sunlight on the Pebble Beach lawn in August.
The HP-X was Honda’s first concept car and was penned by the iconic Italian design house Pininfarina. Now the 40-year-old concept has returned to Pininfarina’s workshop for a full restoration, and the refurbished HP-X will compete for an award in the “Wedge-Shaped Concept Cars and Prototypes” category at this year’s Pebble Beach show.
The HP-X is fairly compact, measuring 163.8 inches long—roughly four inches shorter than a Toyota GR86—and it is only 43.7 inches tall. The body is a sleek wedge, with a short hood and a series of angled lines along the side that accentuate the cab-forward look. The HP-X eschews doors for a single-piece Perspex canopy that lifts upward and wears two-tone paint with the white and dark blue sections separated by a sporty red stripe.
Along with funky styling, the HP-X featured advanced aerodynamics with ground effects, and the streamlined rear section of the canopy was meant to act as a driver-controlled air brake. The HP-X also utilized carbon fiber and Kevlar to minimize weight. The HP-X packs a mid-mounted DOHC 24-valve 2.0-liter V-6, which was derived from a Honda Formula 2 racing engine. The cabin’s screens displayed real-time telemetry, GPS, and road condition warnings that used sonar.
While the HP-X concept never reached production, Honda says it inspired and informed the development of the first-generation NSX, sold globally as a Honda and with an Acura badge in the United States. We can’t wait to check out the HP-X concept in the metal when the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance kicks off on August 18.
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
