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1984 Honda HP-X Concept Car Makes North American Debut at 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Honda is turning back the clock 40 years with the North American debut of the company's very first concept car, the Honda HP-X, at the upcoming Monterey Car Week. This event, one of the world's premier gatherings of automotive and motorsports enthusiasts, will feature the radical wedge-shaped HP-X (Honda Pininfarina eXperimental) Concept. Styled and handcrafted by the renowned Italian design house Pininfarina, the HP-X made its first major public appearance in 1984, preceding the development of the first-generation NSX supercar.
Following an extensive restoration at the Pininfarina workshop in Italy, the legendary Honda HP-X Concept will be showcased in the Wedge-Shaped Concept Cars and Prototypes Class at the 73rd Annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.
"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," said Dave Marek, Acura design executive and honorary Pebble Beach Concours judge. "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."
The HP-X employed advanced aerodynamics, including "ground effects" and innovative cooling solutions for its mid-mounted 2.0-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine, based on a Honda F2 racing engine. The futuristic concept features a jet-fighter style removable single-piece Perspex canopy instead of doors. The rear of the canopy extends into a fairing, improving the car's streamline appearance and serving as a driver-controlled air brake. Additionally, the HP-X explored the cutting-edge use of alternative materials, including honeycomb panels, carbon fiber, and Kevlar, to reduce weight and improve performance.
The HP-X's interior explored new levels of comfort, ergonomics, and function through extensive styling research. Honda's "Electronic Drive Support System" previewed advanced features such as real-time telemetry, GPS, and road condition warnings via "special sonar" – technologies commonplace today.
"The Honda HP-X is an ideal example of Pininfarina's unique ability to present innovative ideas through concept cars that set future trends," said Felix Kilbertus, Pininfarina's chief creative officer. "At Pininfarina, we strive to infuse our values of design excellence into every project, ensuring that the essence of the brand we collaborate with remains intact while confidently looking ahead. The HP-X did not go into production, but its influence on subsequent Honda models and the broader automotive landscape is undeniable. It stands as a testament to both Honda's and Pininfarina's innovative spirit, inspiring future developments in the automotive industry."
Designed with a focus on advancing technology, the HP-X Concept served as a testbed for ambitious new ideas, technologies, and engineering principles that would eventually be seen in later Honda and Acura models, particularly in the mid-engine two-seat NSX, which debuted a few years later. Designed and developed in Japan, the first-generation NSX embodied many of the ideas and innovations first explored in the HP-X, firmly cementing the concept's place in automotive history.
HP-X Concept Dimensions:
About Pininfarina
Global icon of Italian style, Pininfarina is recognized for its unparalleled ability to create timeless beauty through its values of elegance, purity, and innovation. Founded in 1930, Pininfarina has evolved from an artisan concern to an international service Group, the supreme expression of automotive styling, and an established reality in industrial and experience design, architecture, nautical, and mobility beyond automotive. Employing 500 people, with offices in Italy, Germany, China, and the United States, Pininfarina has been listed on the Stock Exchange since 1986. Over nine decades, Pininfarina has designed more than 1,300 automotive and mobility projects and over 650 product and architecture projects, receiving more than 70 international design awards in the past 10 years.
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