The 1984 Honda Pininfarina eXperimental made its debut in California after a long restoration: doorless and wedge-shaped, it was the Japanese manufacturer’s first modern concept car.
Debuts at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, after a long restoration, the Concept car Honda HP-X (Honda Pininfarina eXperimental) presented at the 1984 Turin Motor Show. Entered in the “Wedge-Shaped Concept Cars and Prototypes Class”, it made history as the first participation of a Japanese vehicle at the prestigious American event in over 50 years. The prototype was designed by Pininfarina to launch a mid-engined supercar made in Japan on the market and was characterized by a marked wedge profile and a doorless cockpit inspired by to fighter jets.
first honda supercar concept
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The prototype, which had been presented to the public at the 1984 Turin Motor Show, underwent a careful restoration at the Pininfarina workshops in Cambiano, to be exhibited in the class of concept cars and wedge-shaped prototypes of the 73rd Annual Pebble Beach Concours d’EleganceSunday, August 18, 2024. The restoration phases of the concept maintained the originality of the model wherever possible, with the same two-tone white and navy blue paint job and red and white leather interior details. “The Honda HP-X was the star of the 1984 Turin Auto Show,” explains Dave Marek, Acura design executive and honorary judge of the Concorso, “showcasing cutting-edge engineering and design excellence, with extreme wedge-shaped styling that has continued to inspire future generations of automotive designers and engineers.”
the sling of the future
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The Honda HP-X concept exhibited at the 1984 Turin Motor Show had a huge impact on the automotive sector of that time, pushing designers to dare more and more: the prototype in fact used aadvanced aerodynamics which included ground effect and innovative cooling solutions for its mid-mounted 2.0-litre 24-valve V6 engine, based on a Honda F2 racing engine. “The Honda HP-X is the perfect example of Pininfarina’s unique ability to showcase innovative ideas through concept cars that dictate future trends,” explains Felix Kilbertus, Chief Creative Officer of Pininfarina. It was a futuristic concept from every point of view: without doors, it featured a removable one-piece Perspex canopy in the style of a fighter jet. And the rear of the canopy extended to form a fairing with two main functions: to improve the aerodynamics of the model and to act as a driver-controlled air brake.
the restoration of the honda concept
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The restoration of the Honda HP-X concept pays homage to an era of great excitement in the automotive industry and great change in the world of design. Designed with a focus on technological progress, the Honda Pininfarina eXperimental experimented the cutting-edge use of alternative materials including honeycomb panels, carbon fibre and Kevlar to reduce weight and improve performance. Inside the cabin, new levels of comfort were sought, with a focus on ergonomics and functionality, while on the safety front, a Honda-developed electronic driver support system included advanced features including real-time telemetry, GPS and road condition warnings via “special sonar”. The HP-X was served by testing ground for new ideastechnologies and ambitious engineering principles that would be seen in subsequent Honda and Acura models, most notably the two-seater, mid-engined NSX that arrived a few years later. “The HP-X never entered production as such,” says Felix Kilbertus, “but its influence on subsequent Honda models and the automotive landscape more generally is undeniable, and is a testament to the innovative spirit of both Honda and Pininfarina, inspiring future developments in the automotive industry.”
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2024-08-13 05:30:45
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