Honda NSX Returns as Tensei in Striking New Restomod

JAS Motorsport may not be a household name to casual fans, but they’ve been tied to Honda’s global racing program for nearly three decades. They became an official Honda racing partner in 1998, first operating as a works team and later taking on engineering and customer support roles. Their resume includes building the NSX GT3 race car as well as the current Honda Civic Type R TCR machine used in international touring car competition.

All of that experience now feeds into Tensei. JAS says the goal was to capture the essence of the original NSX and pair it with the performance expectations of a modern supercar. Official specs remain limited, but the company hints at “cutting-edge technology” and a competition-derived powertrain. Reporting from Road & Track adds more detail, noting that Tensei will use a naturally aspirated V6 paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Each build will also start with a donor NSX chassis, keeping the structure and proportions rooted in the classic 1990s model.

A Design That Honors the NSX While Elevating It

The beauty of this revival is how instantly recognizable it remains. The pop-up headlights return, the sweeping glass canopy carries over, and the rear spoiler looks like a refined version of the original car’s subtle wing. Pininfarina didn’t try to reinvent the silhouette. Instead, they enhanced it to match today’s expectations while keeping the NSX’s identity intact.

The full carbon-fiber exterior plays a huge role in that transformation. The nose sits lower with a more dramatic intake that appears to vent through the hood. Wider front fenders and larger wheels give the car a more confident stance. Additional side intakes feed the mid-mounted engine, and the sculpting along the body makes the familiar shape look sharper and more purposeful.

From the rear, the famous full-width taillight bar returns with a modern interpretation. The bumper is new, housing two exhaust outlets shaped like Pininfarina’s “A” logo. It’s a small detail that ties together the Italian design influence and the car’s Japanese origins. Tensei captures what fans love about the NSX while showing how the form can evolve with updated materials and more aggressive proportions.

For now, most details remain under wraps. JAS hasn’t announced production numbers, pricing, or final performance figures. But the newly released photos — and the involvement of Pininfarina — are enough to capture serious attention from enthusiasts and collectors. It’s rare to see a restomod this substantial executed by the same motorsport outfit that built the factory race cars.

What makes Tensei compelling is how naturally the NSX fits into this type of project. The original model has always been celebrated for its balance, reliability, and user-friendly nature. Upgrading it with carbon panels, racing-influenced engineering, and a manual V6 powertrain feels like a respectful evolution rather than a dramatic rewrite.

If the finished version delivers on what JAS Motorsport and Pininfarina are promising, Tensei could become one of the standout restomod projects of the decade — a careful reimagining that brings back one of Honda’s most iconic creations in a way that feels both familiar and completely new. For more industry updates, visit our automotive news section.