Even by the lofty standards of reimagined/reworked/reengineered sports cars, hopes were high for the JAS Tensei. The original NSX was already pretty remarkable to begin with; JAS is a globally renowned Honda motorsport outfit; and nobody really needs reminding of what Pininfarina has achieved over the decades.
Seems we were right to expect a lot - the finished Tensei is every bit as good as hoped for, recognisably NSX derived while also being better in every way. It’s a leaner and meaner sports car for one thing, tracks up a huge 170mm for the front and 190mm at the rear; a wheelbase increase of 55mm (plus those gorgeous 19/20-inch centrelocks) means it fills the broader body just nicely. All the panels are now pre-preg carbon, too, meaning a dry weight of just 1,250kg. Further modernising the package are a flat floor and active rear diffuser. The Tensei is every inch the modern sports car, except with pop lights. Now Matrix LED, of course.
The running gear is resolutely old school, while also being almost entirely brand new. Only the block is carried over from the original NSX; Judd power then treats it to new heads, racier cams, titanium valves, ITBs… you name it, the V6 gets it, even including a motorsport-grade valvetrain to replace VTEC. The end result is 420hp at 8,200rpm, a useful uptick from the original 280hp, revving all the way to 8,500rpm. Oh yes, and with a carbon intake inhaling then an Inconel exhaust exhaling - just in case an NSX didn’t sound good enough already…
The V6 is dry sumped as well, lowering the engine 45mm in the chassis. Given the NSX’s on-limit characteristics weren’t the friendliest, it’s a modification that will surely make a significant difference to the handling. The approach for the rest of the chassis is similarly best-of-the-best: Brembo ceramic brakes, KW four-way adjustable dampers, billet Ergal 7075 springs, a carbon clutch and so on. The Tensei being a total rethink of what the NSX could be, rather than just a nicely redone original.
That extends to the inside as well - this isn’t just the usual carbon and CarPlay makeover. The driver’s dials now comprise an analogue tacho with OLED displays, Sabelt seats, a new wheel and, of course, the titanium gearknob taking pride of place. Presumably anyone asking for an automatic Tensei is politely directed somewhere else.
Just 35 Tenseis will be produced, the project announced on the NSX’s 35th anniversary. It’s not clear yet whether all are spoken for; given each will be at least a million quid (£770,000 plus a donor, plus taxes), there might still be a few slots remaining. Maybe not for long once the finished item is seen…
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