Some cars age into legends, and the first-generation Honda NSX is one of them. JAS Motorsport is an Italian team well known for its Honda racing work. With help from Pininfarina, it has now rebuilt that 1990s icon. The finished car is called the Tensei. It was revealed on October 8, 2026, with 35 examples planned.
- JAS Motorsport revealed the Pininfarina-designed Tensei on October 8. It’s a restomod built from first-generation Honda NSX donor cars.
- The biggest changes are a carbon fiber body, a Judd-developed naturally aspirated V6 and a six-speed manual.
- Just 35 cars are planned, and each one will be built and personalized at the JAS workshop near Milan.
A Design Link That Dates to 1984
Pininfarina’s link to the NSX goes back further than most fans realize. In 1984, the Italian studio worked on Honda’s HP-X concept, a mid-engine prototype that came before the production NSX. That gives this new project a nice full-circle feel.
Dimitri Vicedomini, Pininfarina’s head of exterior design, led the work. His team kept the original proportions but widened the stance and trimmed the overhangs. The original car’s aluminum panels are gone, replaced by carbon fiber. The front is 6.7 inches wider than a stock NSX and the rear is 7.5 inches wider. The wheelbase also grows by 2.1 inches.
Yes, the pop-up headlights survived. They now use LED lighting and flip up on a titanium mechanism. A reshaped front bumper and hood vent help airflow. At the back, an integrated rear wing and a carbon fiber diffuser clean up the aero. Slim LED taillights stretch across the tail, and large exhaust outlets frame the diffuser. Fans will also spot a small touch. The original NSX door handles and their badges carry over unchanged.
A Judd V6 and a Real Clutch Pedal
Power still comes from the NSX’s C30A V6, but it has been heavily reworked. Judd Power in Britain developed the engine, and JAS signed off on the units in Italy. It stays naturally aspirated, so there’s no turbocharger and no hybrid help.
The parts list reads like a race engine spec sheet. You get forged pistons and connecting rods, a billet crankshaft, individual throttle bodies and dry-sump lubrication. An Inconel exhaust finishes things off.
Power goes to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual and a mechanical Torsen limited-slip differential. Plenty of new performance cars use paddle shifters and electric motors, so this setup makes it pretty clear who the Tensei is for. It’s built for people who still love shifting their own gears.
Stiffer Bones and a Modern Cabin
JAS started the chassis work by laser scanning an original NSX. Then it added carbon-Kevlar reinforcement to the pillars and center tunnel. The suspension uses billet-aluminum wishbones, redesigned uprights, a multi-link rear setup and four-way adjustable KW dampers. Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes handle stopping duty.
There’s a practical side too. A front lift system raises the nose to clear steep driveways. That fits the spirit of the original NSX, which earned praise for how easy it was to live with.
The Tensei rolls on forged center-lock wheels, 19 inches up front and 20 inches in the rear. They wear Pirelli tires sized 245/35 at the front and 285/30 at the back. Even with all that hardware, JAS estimates the dry weight at about 2,755 pounds.
The cabin keeps the original NSX dimensions but adds new sports seats and a redesigned steering wheel. Exposed carbon fiber, leather, Alcantara and titanium give it a modern finish. The center console sticks with physical controls and a small display. The exposed gear shifter stays front and center, right where a manual car’s shifter belongs.
Where the First Tensei Goes Next
The first car, numbered 001, was previewed in Cambiano on October 8. It’s slated for the Paris Motor Show, which runs October 12 through 18. JAS will build every example at its workshop in Arluno, near Milan. Each of the 35 cars gets custom finishes picked by its owner. Every Tensei starts life as an existing NSX donor car, and the project is JAS Motorsport’s first high-performance road car. Official pricing hasn’t been confirmed.
Ever wondered what a 1990s NSX would look like with modern hardware and an Italian design house shaping its lines? The Tensei is the answer. Keep an eye out for photos from Paris this week to get the best look yet at car number 001.
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