by At Milan Design Week, Pininfarina and JAS Motorsport revealed new details of their Honda NSX restomod project, named Tensei. This news became one of the brightest in 2025.
Updated Proportions and Design
The Pininfarina team focused on changing the car’s proportions, achieving impressive results. Compared to the original, the Tensei has a longer wheelbase, a shorter rear overhang, a wider track, a lower stance, and larger wheels. Chief designer Dimitri Vicedomini noted that after these changes, “the car almost designed itself.”
After the proportional changes, the car almost designed itself.
Extended rear wings and arches create characteristic triangular shapes in the top view, which is a signature Pininfarina style. The design features references to legendary models such as the Ferrari 288 GTO. Despite more aggressive outlines, key original elements, such as the pop-up headlights and the integrated rear spoiler, are preserved in an updated form.
The Heart and Soul of the Car
Beneath the carbon-fiber body lies a naturally aspirated V6 engine developed based on the architecture of the original NSX powerplant. It was engineered for maximum power, torque, and responsiveness. It is paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
No turbos, no electrification, and no nonsense with paddle shifters.
This powertrain is a conscious rejection of modern trends of turbocharging and hybridization in favor of driving purity and emotion.
Interior and Historical Context
The developers are also working on updating the interior, preserving the original’s driver-oriented ergonomics and cabin visibility, but enhancing the perception of quality through premium materials and unique controls. There is hope that the instruments will be analog.
This project has deep historical roots. Pininfarina’s collaboration with Honda began back in 1984 with the HP-X concept car, which foreshadowed the appearance of the NSX several years before its creation. Production of the Tensei will be a hand-built process at the JAS Motorsport atelier near Milan, with customization options handled by Pininfarina in Turin. The full premiere is scheduled for 2026, when the price and limited production run of the car will also be announced.
The emergence of the Tensei points to a sustained interest in restomodding classic icons, where modern technology is combined with the timeless beauty of the original design. This project does not just update the NSX; it reimagines it, emphasizing driver engagement and mechanical purity that are often lost in modern supercars. It serves as a bridge between eras, reminding us that true driving passion often lies in simplicity and the direct connection between human and machine. The success of such initiatives may inspire other manufacturers and ateliers to undertake similar bold revivals of legends.
