In the latest instalment of the Forgotten Concepts series, Double Apex takes a closer look at the Honda Pininfarina HP-X Concept.

In 1984 Honda commissioned famed Italian design house Pininfarina to design a concept car. That car was called the HP-X, which stood for Honda Pininfarina eXperimental and it was the first concept car from the brand. Click here to check out other forgotten concepts as covered on our website

Follow Double Apex on Instagram and Facebook where we share more car content.

Change of Outlook

Honda had built a reputation for making front-engined, front-wheel-drive cars. The company wanted to change its perception in the public eye. As a result a group of engineers was tasked with evaluating new ideas. The story goes that the team moved the engine in one of its City runabouts from the front to the rear of the car. Additionally, they converted it to rear-wheel-drive. Unsurprisingly, they found it was a blast to drive. That idea didn’t result in a production version, but a RWD model was on the cards.

Enlisting The Best

In the mid-1980s Honda enlisted Italian styling house Pininfarina to design a concept car. The result of this exercise was the Honda Pininfarina HP-X Concept. The HP-X employed advanced aerodynamics including ‘ground effects’ and innovative cooling solutions for its mid-mounted 2,0-litre 24-valve V6 engine. The engine was based on a Honda F2 racing unit.

Click here to read our driving review of the first-gen Honda NSX.

The styling was revolutionary. There are no doors, instead the concept features a jet fighter-style removable single-piece canopy. The rear of the canopy extends into a fairing with two main functions: improving the car’s streamline appearance and serving as a driver-controlled air brake. Additionally, the HP-X explored the cutting-edge use of alternative materials including honeycomb panels, carbon fibre and Kevlar to reduce mass and improve performance.

A Lasting Legacy

The overall shape of the HP-X went on to heavily influence the original Honda NSX. Even the name of the mid-engined production machine took inspiration from the concept: New Sportscar eXperimental became NSX. Development on Japan’s first supercar began a year after the HP-X was first shown. Honda’s quest for perfection resulted in a long gestation period for the NSX. It would eventually make its public debut in 1989. And the rest, as they say, is history.