Yahoo Autos Honda Restored Its First Concept, the 1984 HP-X, for Pebble Beach
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.
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