Italdesign to Unveil Honda NSX Tribute at Tokyo Auto Salon 2026

Italdesign is set to make a high-profile return to Tokyo Auto Salon in January 2026 with a project that bridges Japanese performance heritage and Italian design culture. Officially recognized by Honda, the Honda NSX Tribute by Italdesignwill debut at Makuhari Messe from January 9–11, 2026, displayed in North Hall 11, Booth 1102, as a contemporary reinterpretation of one of Japan’s most influential performance cars.

Conceived as a “philological homage,” the NSX Tribute by Italdesign distills the core values that defined the original Honda NSX—performance, reliability, and everyday usability—and translates them into a modern, tailor-made few-off project. Italdesign has curated the program end to end, encompassing styling, engineering, and ultra-limited series production, positioning the car as both a design statement and a declaration of intent.

The timing of the project is deliberate. In 2025, Honda marks several anniversaries tied to its motorsport legacy and the NSX itself, a car that famously challenged European supercars by combining exotic performance with Japanese engineering precision and real-world usability. Italdesign’s tribute arrives as a way of acknowledging those milestones while also looking forward, using contemporary design language and modern engineering to reframe an icon for today’s enthusiast audience.

“For us, the Honda NSX Tribute by Italdesign is an extraordinary project that embodies the spirit of innovation, the pursuit of exclusivity, the exaltation of craftsmanship, and respect for tradition that have always driven our company,” said Andrea Porta, Business Development Manager at Italdesign. He described Tokyo Auto Salon as the ideal venue to reinforce the company’s connection with Japan, younger enthusiasts, and tuning culture, calling it a place where “true passion for the automobile” is on full display.

Porta also emphasized that the project is first and foremost a tribute to Honda itself, crediting the brand for granting Italdesign the opportunity to reinterpret such a significant model. The NSX Tribute is also positioned as a celebration of the original NSX’s boldness, recognizing it as the first Japanese supercar to seriously challenge European rivals both stylistically and dynamically.

Production of the NSX Tribute by Italdesign will be strictly limited and offered exclusively in right-hand drive, underlining its focus on the Japanese market and collectors aligned with JDM culture. Italdesign says the project is aimed at a diverse but discerning audience, ranging from design-focused clients drawn to clean aesthetics and ergonomic clarity, to ’90s-era enthusiasts seeking authentic driving sensations, and even hypercar collectors who value a thoughtful balance between heritage and technological progress. Each example will be developed through a close, one-to-one collaboration with its owner.

The full details of the Honda NSX Tribute by Italdesign will be revealed during Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, with additional imagery and video assets made available starting January 9 via Italdesign’s media center. As anticipation builds, the project stands as a rare cross-cultural collaboration—Italian design precision applied to a Japanese performance legend, unveiled on home turf in one of the world’s most enthusiast-driven automotive venues.