The Acura NSX is Back From the Dead With an Official, Ultra-Limited Redesign
The biggest car news and reviews, no BS
Our free daily newsletter sends the stories that really matter directly to you, every weekday.
Italdesign, a behind-the-scenes player in the car industry, is making waves with a new Acura NSX. This isn't your typical redesign; it's a heavy refresh of the second-gen car, endorsed by Honda itself. The result? A stunning, ultra-limited series that's more about showcasing Italdesign's artistic capabilities than a consumer's road car.
The NSX, a mid-engine supercar with two generations and three looks, made its debut in the 1990s, famously driven by F1 legend Ayrton Senna. The original model, with its wedge-y flip-lights, was followed by a fixed-light refresh for the Y2K era. After a long wait, Honda/Acura released a second-generation model in 2016, a super hybrid that was a driving marvel but sold in limited quantities. In fact, it's rarer than the original, with only about 3,000 built compared to 19,000 first-gens.
The Italdesign tribute effectively gives the car a fourth semi-official body style. It's endorsed by Honda, but the number of units released is unclear. This project is more about Italdesign showcasing its skills, as the images you see are all renders. But that doesn't diminish their appeal.
The media release describes this NSX as a 'few-off project' with 'ultra-limited series production,' indicating at least two right-hand drive units. The price is expected to be over $1,000,000, based on the Nissan GT-R50's 2018 price. Italdesign hasn't revealed details on how to order, leaving Acura store salesmen perplexed.
The redesign is a tribute to the original's racing DNA, with advanced technology and artisanal excellence. Italdesign's experts worked on the car's musculature, reintroducing the original's low, sleek proportions. The front features glossy black headlamp clusters, emphasizing the car's 'gaze' and creating contrast. The rear lights emerge from the black background, with a functional hot-air diffuser.
The interior is inspired by the first generation's double cockpit, with elements connecting driver and passenger. Italdesign's designers focused on aerodynamics, studying every appendage to maximize performance without sacrificing expressiveness. The roof air intake pays homage to the NSX-R GT version, a sophisticated engineering solution.
Italdesign will be at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, January 9-11, 2026, in North Hall 11, Booth 1102, if you're in Japan. The company's YouTube sizzle reel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2r1sWTzi_M) teases a broader hype campaign for the brand.
For more details, contact tips@thedrive.com.
