The Honda HP-X, designed by Pininfarina and first unveiled at the 1984 Turin Motor Show, will be showcased at the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Honda's first-ever concept car, the 1984 Honda HP-X Concept, a gloriously wedgy design, will be making a once-in-a-lifetime journey from Italy to California for this year's Monterey Car Week. The Japanese automaker's iconic concept will be displayed on the famous lawn as part of the Wedge-Shaped Concept Cars and Prototypes class at the 73rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
The mid-engine car was designed by Pininfarina in the early '80s and debuted at the 1984 Turin Motor Show. Its design was a radical departure from typical Honda or Japanese cars, featuring a wedge shape and fighter jet-inspired interior, reflecting the Italian influence of popular supercars like the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Testarossa. Unlike those, the HP-X was a true concept car with unique features such as a removable single-piece Perspex canopy instead of doors.
The Honda Pininfarina eXperimental (HP-X) was a precursor to the NSX, Honda's first supercar. It featured a mid-mounted 2.0-liter, 24-valve V6 engine derived from an F2 racing unit, and an unusual driver-controlled air brake integrated into the fairing, though its performance specifications are unknown.
Honda's first-ever concept car was unveiled in 1984, nearly 40 years after the company started building engines and motorcycles, and around 20 years after it began producing trucks and cars. The fact that Honda approached Pininfarina, the renowned Italian design house, for its first concept car demonstrates the company's excellent taste and vision.
"The Honda HP-X exemplifies Pininfarina's exceptional capacity to introduce innovative concepts that shape future trends," said Felix Kilbertus, Pininfarina's chief creative officer. "At Pininfarina, we strive to infuse our design excellence into every collaboration, ensuring the essence of the partnering brand remains intact while confidently looking ahead. Although the HP-X did not enter production, its influence on subsequent Honda models and the broader automotive landscape is undeniable. It stands as a testament to the innovative spirit shared by Honda and Pininfarina, inspiring future advancements in the industry."
The HP-X's design may have been too extreme for mass production, but it paved the way for other innovative concepts. According to Honda, the "technologies and engineering principles" used in the HP-X were directly applied to the NSX, particularly the mid-engine, two-seat layout. Honda deserves praise for restoring the HP-X to perfection and showcasing it at Pebble Beach, allowing people to admire it. It's commendable that Japanese brands, like their European counterparts, are investing in sharing their rich culture in North America.