Italdesign Announces Mysterious NSX Tribute Project

Turin, Italy – Italdesign has announced a new project under the name NSX Tribute, immediately fueling speculation about a collaboration with Honda and the possible return of one of the most celebrated mid-engined sports cars of the past three decades.

The company has released only limited information, but the use of the Honda logo in connection with the announcement strongly suggests that this is not a simple design exercise but rather an official partnership between the Japanese automaker and Italdesign, which has been part of the Volkswagen Group since 2010.

A Project Wrapped in Mystery

No images or technical data have been disclosed, leaving industry observers to interpret the meaning of the term Tribute. The wording implies that Italdesign could be preparing a concept car inspired by the original, first-generation Honda NSX, launched in 1990 and remembered for its clean, functional design and engineering input from Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna.

At the same time, the announcement comes at a moment when Honda has been openly discussing its transition toward electrification. The company has already hinted at the possibility of an all-electric sports car to succeed the NSX, though without presenting a concrete prototype. In 2022, Honda published teasers of two upcoming BEVs, one of which was described as a future flagship sports model. That vehicle was tentatively scheduled to arrive between 2027 and 2028, but no further details have since been revealed.

Tribute or Preview of a Successor?

It remains unclear whether the Italdesign initiative is intended purely as a design study honoring the past or as a preview of a future production model. A tribute-style concept could celebrate the design DNA of the original NSX while updating it with modern proportions and detailing. Conversely, Italdesign might be working with Honda to shape the brand’s next-generation halo car, which would serve as both a statement of heritage and a symbol of Honda’s electric ambitions.

Given Italdesign’s history of collaboration with a wide range of global manufacturers—from Italian exotics to Japanese mass-market leaders—the Turin-based firm is well positioned to bridge Honda’s past achievements with its future direction.

Anticipation Builds

The announcement has already generated significant attention in both the design and automotive communities. The NSX remains one of the most iconic Japanese sports cars ever built, and any initiative carrying its name commands worldwide interest.

For now, Italdesign has not confirmed when the NSX Tribute will be unveiled, nor has Honda issued a parallel statement clarifying its role in the project. More information is expected to emerge in the coming months as Italdesign prepares to showcase the concept, potentially at one of the upcoming major international auto shows.

Until then, speculation will continue: will the NSX Tribute remain a commemorative design study, or could it mark the beginning of a new chapter for Honda’s legendary two-seater in the era of electrification?