Honda to bring 1984 HP-X concept car to Pebble Beach

Probably You’ve probably never seen the 1984 Honda HP-X concept car before. You’ve probably never even seen Hear That’s okay. We understand. It was unveiled at the 1984 Turin Motor Show but hasn’t been seen in public for 40 years. That streak ends on Sunday, August 18, when it makes its North American debut at the 73rd annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance during Monterey Car Week in 2024. With its wedge-shaped Pininfarina design, it’s sure to turn a lot of heads, but it’s more than just looks. It’s an important page in Honda and Acura history.

We’re so used to concept cars that it’s easy to think they’ve always been around. In the 1980s, concept cars were new to Honda. In fact, the HP-X (Honda Pininfarina eXperimental) was Honda’s first concept car. Pininfarina’s designers certainly knew what a concept car should look like. They gave it an aggressive fighter jet-style removable one-piece Perspex canopy. Not only was this the highlight of the HP-X, it was also integrated into the rear fairing, acting as a driver-activated air brake.

Below that is a cockpit equipped with a forward-thinking “electronic driving support system” that features real-time telemetry, GPS, and even road condition warnings from “special sonar”—features that seem relatively commonplace in 2024. The surrounding bodywork underneath is made from lightweight materials like carbon fiber and Kevlar, which still feels relevant 40 years later.

Those very ’80s-style angled edges fly past the mid-mounted 2.0-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine, which is based on Honda’s F2 racing engine. This brings us to the most important part of the HP-X legend. Remember how it was an important part of Acura’s history? I’ll explain the connection in three letters: NSX. According to Honda, “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.”

If you do end up attending the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, look for the fully restored HP-X in the aptly named Wedge of Concepts and Prototypes category. Given its history, it may be a while before you see it up close again.