Honda has breathed new life into lost wedge-shaped supercar concept

Honda has revived its forgotten and wedge-shaped supercar concept after 40 years.

The HP-X was the brand’s first modern concept car.

It’s being dusted off for this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

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Honda 1984 HP-X

Well before the most powerful production car, the Acura NSX Type S, Honda had a futuristic, wedge-shaped concept – the 1984 HP-X.

It was designed by Pininfarina and debuted at the 1984 Turin Motor Show.

For the period it was considered a groundbreaking ultra-aerodynamic and futuristic sports car.

The 1984 HP-X boasted a lightweight Kevlar and carbon fiber 2.0-liter V-6 engine.

This engine was derived from Honda’s Formula 2 race car.

It was the first to use ‘ground effects’ to create downforce and had a driver-controlled air brake.

Fast-forward to today

Sadly, the 1984 HP-X never happened and, five years later, the NSX came on the scene.

Now, 40 years later, the concept car is back on the main stage of this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on 18 August 2024.

Fully restored for the occasion, the 1984 HP-X will be the first Japanese car on the main event field in more than 50 years.

While the ‘Wedge-Shaped Concept and Prototypes Class’ is obscure – it’s a real triumph.

So has it had an upgrade for the class of 2024? No.

The Japanese brand kept the car as true to the original as possible via its faithful restoration.

The same two-tone white-and-navy-blue paint job with red accents looked very 1984.

Plus its red-and-white suede interior with a button-heavy center stack without doors is just as eighties.

It even retains the single-piece Perspex acrylic canopy complete with fighter-jet-esque hatch revealing its two-seat layout.

“The Honda HP-X Concept was the star of the 1984 Turin Auto Show, showcasing elements of engineering excellence and cutting-edge design, with extreme wedge-shape styling that continues to inspire future generations of car designers and engineers,” Acura design executive, Dave Marek said.

“The forward-thinking HP-X had an undeniable impact on the industry, highlighting our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in automotive design.”

In similar news, the Citroën Karin is probably the oddest supercar concept car that never made it.

Looking into the future, the 2026 Camaro supercar concept is a perfect blend of a Corvette and Camaro.