Is This the NSX’s Perfect Rebirth?

Few cars inspire as much affection as the original Honda NSX, which makes any attempt to reinvent it a risky move. Yet Pininfarina and JAS Motorsport are betting that a modern interpretation can respect the icon without simply copying it.

Their answer is the Tensei, a name meaning “rebirth” in Japanese. The first-generation NSX provides the foundation, but the result looks considerably more muscular, with wider proportions and carbon-fiber bodywork. Thankfully, the signature pop-up headlights survive, while the cabin puts the manual gearshift firmly in the spotlight.

The mechanical recipe should appeal to purists, too: a naturally aspirated V6 paired with a six-speed manual. Beneath the redesigned exterior, the engineering has also been extensively reworked. Is this the kind of evolution the NSX deserves, or does changing such a celebrated design miss the point?

There’s a historical connection behind the project. Pininfarina designed Honda’s mid-engined HP-X concept in 1984, years before the production NSX arrived. The Tensei therefore reconnects the Italian design house with a story it helped begin.

Production is planned to be limited to just 35 cars, so this won’t be a common sight on the road.

But can a more aggressive NSX improve on the original’s clean lines? Or would you keep the classic untouched and give the Tensei its own place in the garage?