- Tensei gets a longer wheelbase, wider track, and shorter rear overhang.
- Carbon body hides naturally-aspirated V6 and six-speed manual gearbox.
- Pop-up headlights and integral rear spoiler both make the jump to 2026.
Update: Pininfarina has dropped a fresh batch of images showing the NSX Tensei in two new finishes, a deep blue and an exposed dark burgundy carbon fiber that lets the weave do the talking.
News of the NSX reboot by Pininfarina and JAS Motorsport was one of our 2025 highlights, and now the pair is pulling back the curtain a little more on this awesome restomod project at Milano Design Week.
Let’s start with the proportions, because that’s where Pininfarina’s team put a lot of focus, with some mind-blowing results. Compared to the original NSX, the Tensei runs a longer wheelbase, shorter rear overhang, wider track, lower stance, and bigger wheels. Lead designer Dimitri Vicedomini says once those changes were locked in, “the car almost designed itself.”
Related: Honda’s Heritage Parts Come To The US, But One Big NSX Perk Stays Overseas
Those widened rear shoulders and flared fenders create what Pininfarina calls “triangular gestures in plan view,” a signature touch you’ll recognise from plenty of their greatest hits. I can certainly see strong overtones of the gorgeous Pininfarina-designed Ferrari 288 GTO, the precursor to the more famous F40.
The result is an NSX that looks like it’s been hitting the gym since it was horrified by the sight of its skinny frame on the cover of Motor Trend in 1989, and hasn’t skipped a single session. But it’s great to see that key design elements from the OG, including the pop-up lights and integral rear spoiler, are retained in modified form.
Pure V6 Music, And A Manual
Under the skin is a naturally aspirated V6 based on the original’s engine architecture, engineered for maximum power, torque, and responsiveness. And it’s paired with a six-speed manual transmission. No turbos, no electrification, and no paddle-shift nonsense. The kind of powertrain setup that’ll make modern supercar buyers feel like they backed the wrong horse, even if the Tensei delivers far fewer horses.
We’ve also got a bit of an interior story this time around, though unfortunately, no images to go with it. Pininfarina says it’s been hard at work on the cockpit, keeping the original’s driver-focused ergonomics and visibility while introducing what they’re calling “higher perceived quality.” So expect bespoke switchgear and lots of fancy materials. Fingers crossed, we’ll get analog, rather than digital gauges.
Back To Its Roots
The deeper story here is actually a historical one. Pininfarina‘s connection to Honda stretches back to 1984, when the two collaborated on the HP-X concept, a mid-engined sports car that effectively predicted the NSX years before it existed.
The Tensei will be hand-built at JAS Motorsport’s atelier in Arluno, near Milan, with bespoke customisation options handled at Pininfarina’s own facility in Cambiano, Turin. The full reveal is still scheduled for later in 2026, when we’ll presumably find out how much it’ll cost and how many lucky people will get to own one.