The Honda NSX Tribute by Italdesign was one of the more unusual sports cars I encountered at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed. For American enthusiasts, the easiest way to understand it is as a radically rebodied second-generation Acura NSX, combining the first NSX’s visual inspiration with the hybrid technology of its successor.
Before reaching Goodwood, it debuted at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, then traveled to Osaka Auto Messe, Automobile Council Japan in Chiba, and Milan Design Week. That journey reflected Italdesign’s relationship with Japan, which it expanded further into in the 1980s, and its intention to build the car for Japanese clients.
Italdesign told me in Goodwood that Honda officially recognized the project. Honda also supplied the red-background badge fitted to the nose. That level of involvement is noteworthy because this is not an unofficial body kit or a one-off design exercise created without the manufacturer’s knowledge.
In the flesh, the proportions are the same as the second-generation NSX hybrid, which was discontinued in 2022, because Italdesign had to preserve the donor car’s frame, platform, cooling requirements, and road-legal certification.
The existing side mirrors were retained for the same reason. Underneath the new surfaces, the familiar mid-engine hybrid package remains central to the vehicle.
Up front, we understand that Honda recommended that Italdesign evoke the pop-up headlights of the original NSX. Traditional pop-ups were not a practical option due to regulations, so the designers created movable housings around the daytime running lights.
They retract when the car is switched on, exposing the lighting elements, and return to their resting position when it is shut down. It is a clever theatrical feature that harks back to the first-generation NSX without copying it literally.
The front intakes form an H-shaped graphic, giving the nose a subtle Honda reference. A roof-mounted intake pays tribute to the rare Honda NSX-R GT, although Italdesign kept it lower than the towering scoop fitted to that five-car special. The revised shape had to remain within certification limits while still feeding the required systems.
At the rear, the most striking element is the large wing. Italdesign integrated the lighting into it and recreated the original NSX’s three-light theme using modern hardware. The result feels more technical than decorative, especially when viewed directly from behind.
The production body would be made entirely from carbon fiber. Customers could choose painted panels, exposed black carbon, or a transparent finish that leaves the weave visible. Yokohama’s Advan brand supplies the wheels and tires, maintaining the project’s connection with Japanese suppliers.
There was no cabin presentation at Goodwood. The doors remained locked, and Italdesign described the Tribute as an exterior-focused project rather than an interior redesign. That makes sense given the small production target and the need to preserve the comfort and ergonomics of the NSX.
Italdesign told me it is considering 10 to 15 examples, with Japan and right-hand-drive customers as the main focus. The company is waiting for at least five firm orders before committing to production, although it is understood that some development work has already been completed.
While there’s nothing official on this at this time, the indicated price is €1 million, positioning it as a seven-figure collector commission rather than a conventional Acura alternative.
The project follows Italdesign’s Nissan GT-R50 program, which produced 20 cars after pandemic-related delays. With the NSX Tribute, the company is again testing whether a small group of collectors will pay for a rare Italian spin on a major Japanese performance icon.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
