Japan's NSX supercar gets a new lease

JAS Motorsport, an official Honda partner for three decades, has developed a restomodded version of the NSX, Japan’s first and greatest mid-engined supercar. The company, which has run the works Civic for the Honda Castrol WTCC team and second-generation NSXs as GT3 cars, chose Pininfarina to design the car and Judd to work on the engine.

The result is a car with the vibe of the original NSX, but with 420bhp at 8,500rpm, and carbon fibre panels over the original aluminium structure. It features useful modern features including adaptive dampers, nose lift, automatic parking brake, and CarPlay, but without the modern hindrances.

In 1991, the original NSX had a startling effect on the supercar world. Honda designed a little VTEC V6, bolted into the world’s first pressed-aluminium monocoque, with ultra-light suspension. The whole thing weighed 1,370kg, making the V6, revving to 8,000rpm, sufficient.

The NSX was too accessible for many critics, with power seats, Bose hi-fi, climate control, and a light clutch. It even had traction control, and if you turned that off, you might have needed Senna-like skills to catch it. Gordon Murray, who owned an NSX, said it was used as a benchmark for ride versus handling for the McLaren F1.

JAS used software for suspension and aero design, but needed a full digital 3D model of the car. Since Honda couldn’t provide one, JAS had to scan an original car’s body. With that in place, they could design and engineer the whole car in a digital environment.

Fischer, from JAS, said they didn’t want a car that was overly flashy, but rather a committed effort that respected the original NSX’s heritage. Pininfarina’s design appears drawn from the original, with more sheer and muscular sides, and a shallower rear glass angle.

The Tensei has a new engine, starting with Honda’s block, but with a deep-dive job by Judd. It’s now 3.5 litres, revving to 8,500rpm, and making 420bhp.

The Tensei keeps almost all the original dash, binnacle, and console surfaces, and the door cards with their brilliant integrated air vents. The wonderful NSX column-mounted switch pods for lights and wipers stay, and Pininfarina designed a semi-digital display to accommodate modern menus.

Prospective customers can switch to a near-exact rendering of the old, and wonderfully clear, six-dial yellow-needle layout. The car also features a choice of wheels and brakes, with bespoke forged OZ wheels or a set with radial spokes similar to the NSX Type-R.

They will get a car that is both a tribute to the past and a reliable vehicle with modern features.