The Honda NSX Has Been Brought Back From the Dead with 420 HP and a Six Speed Manual is a rebirth of the original NSX but not in the traditional factory sense.
This Japanese supercar has been reborn in the hands of an Italian motorsport specialist, JAS Motorsport who have created the stunning JAS Tensei. Created in collaboration with Pininfarina and engineered with the input of Judd Power, JAS has created an ultra-exclusive restomod which combines the purity of the original NSX with the performance, materials and engineering of a modern supercar for only 35 lucky owners.
The name Tensei means rebirth in Japanese, fitting for a car which retains the spirit of the original NSX but replaces almost every key mechanical and visual part with something new. With a naturally aspirated V6, six speed manual, carbon-fibre body, and kerb weight of only approximately 1,250 kg, this is a car for the enthusiast which values control over complexity.
Restomod, Based Upon the Original NSX
The JAS Tensei starts with the bones of an original first generation Honda NSX, a car which is considered one of the most important sports cars of the 1990s. The aluminium monocoque of the original NSX is kept, but reinforced considerably with carbon fibre for greater stiffness and safety.
JAS has also stretched the Tensei considerably. Compared to the original NSX the Tensei is approximately 20 centimetres wider, and has a wheelbase increased by approximately 6 centimetres. The front and rear track are also significantly increased over the original NSX, providing further stability and grip.
The final result is a car which is instantly identifiable as an NSX but looks broader, lower, and more aggressive. Every Tensei will be individually specified by its owner, ensuring that no two are quite the same.
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Pininfarina Design, but with a Modern Edge
The bodywork of the Tensei has been designed by the legendary Italian styling house Pininfarina. The aim was not to copy the original NSX but interpret modern themes with the cleaner lines of the original NSX.
The Tensei keeps many familiar design elements of the original NSX, including the low nose, sweeping glasshouse, and compact cabin. However, the new bodywork is constructed from full carbon fibre allowing JAS to reduce weight while further improving aerodynamics.
The pop-up headlights of the original NSX have also been retained, a decision sure to please collectors. At the same time, the Tensei gets significantly widened fenders, modern air intakes, redesigned bumpers, and larger wheels. This combination gives the car a more aggressive stance without losing any of the elegance that defined the NSX.
The exterior of the Tensei is built in Italy, and fitted with final assembly and personalisation at JAS Motorsport’s facility in the outskirts of Milan and Pininfarina’s Cambiano atelier.
Naturally Aspirated V6, with Racing DNA
The biggest mechanical change is hidden beneath the cabin. JAS has extensively modified the original Honda V6 architecture with the help of British engine specialist Judd Power.
The engine has been enlarged from 3.0 litres to approximately 3.5 litres. It remains naturally aspirated, with no turbocharger, supercharger, hybrid assistance or artificial engine sound. That decision underlines the ethos of the Tensei, which is to provide a more immediate, mechanical and high revving experience.
Specification JAS Tensei
Engine 3.5 litre naturally aspirated V6
Power Approximately 420 hp
Torque Approximately 414 Nm
Redline 8,500 rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual
Drive layout Rear-wheel drive
Weight Approximately 1,250 kg
The engine has been reported to produce approximately 420 hp at 8,300 rpm, with the tachometer peaking out at 8,500 rpm. Torque output of approximately 414 Nm has also been reported. While JAS has not released an official acceleration figure, the low weight and rear-wheel-drive layout of the Tensei should give it exceptional responsiveness and agility.
The six-speed manual gearbox is one of the defining features of the Tensei. In a world dominated by dual-clutch transmissions and electric cars, the Tensei preserves the three-pedal experience of the original NSX.
Chassis, Brakes and Wheels
JAS has upgraded the NSX’s suspension, steering, brakes, and wheels to match the additional performance. The Tensei takes the form of a revised chassis with strengthened mounting points and suspension geometry improvements.
The car is fitted with large performance wheels, approximately 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear. These are surrounded by wide performance tyres which provide significantly more grip than the original NSX was capable of.
The braking system has also been upgraded with modern performance parts, though specific details have not yet been announced. These improvements, along with the improved track and reinforced monocoque, should make the Tensei significantly faster on a circuit while retaining the usability of an NSX inspired grand tourer.
Exclusive Interior
Inside, the Tensei combines the original NSX proportion with modern materials and judicious use of technology. The cabin is driver focused, with a low seating position, a compact dash, and a manually operated gear lever within easy reach.
JAS and Pininfarina are expected to offer extensive personalization options on the interior including bespoke leathers, Alcantara, carbon-fibre trim, distinctive stitching, and unique colour combinations. The interior will retain the sense of occasion of the original NSX but provide enhanced comfort and refinement.
Price and Production
The JAS Tensei will be limited to only 35 examples worldwide, and reports suggest that already all units have been allocated. The starting price is approximately €880,000, excluding the donor NSX and any optional personalization. Including taxes, shipping, and bespoke equipment, the final cost could rival or even exceed one million US dollars.
Each car is expected to take approximately 12 months to build, with owners able to follow the process and personalization up close.
The JAS Tensei is not merely an expensive restomod. It is a careful homage to the original Honda NSX and a celebration of analogue driving in an increasingly digital world. With its naturally aspirated V6, manual transmission, carbon-fibre body, and Pininfarina design, the Tensei delivers an experience that modern electric supercars simply can’t replicate.
The Tensei proves that the NSX legend still has a powerful legacy. More than three decades since the original changed the performance-car world, JAS Motorsport has given it a second lease of life, faster, lighter, wider, more rare, and more exclusive than ever before.
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