“Red Alert: Check out Honda’s 1984 vision of futuristic chaos, the HP-X! This retro-futurist nightmare has been exhumed by Pininfarina, the renowned Italian design firm behind some of the most iconic supercars and concept cars of all time. Fresh from its grave, this 2-door, single-seat monstrosity is setting the stage at the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with its unsettling blend of ’80s futurism and ’80s fashion mishaps.
As we gaze into the abyss of this gullwinged, carbon-fiber coffin, we’re reminded that even our ancestors had delusions of grandeur. The HP-X sported advanced features like a CD player, GPS, and sonar systems, which were probably laughable 40 years ago and laughable STILL today. Who knew the ’90s would come, and VHS tapes would remain the norm?!
But Honda wasn’t trying to make a practical or feasible future; they aimed to create the sexiest, most desirable thing—and, honey, they outdid themselves.
In their defense, the restored HP-X does have aerodynamics reminiscent of a fighter jet (imagine the aerobatic loop-the-loops possible!), or at least that’s what they promise. The canopy removal process leaves us wondering whether the design inspires future two-seaters or ’80s aerodynamic dreams; either way, you won’t easily forget this flying wedge monster.
Honda even boasts: “The first-generation NSX (1990–2005) owed many of its ideas to the HP-X.” Who needs reality shows when you have concept car reveals at Pebble Beach?
Don’t waste your time trying to find any sanity in this design; instead, marvel at Honda’s (and Pininfarina’s!) audacity and vision: the HP-X, where weird meets wonderful.
For years, we’ve been telling you people to ‘dare’ to dream big—we mean, take a peek inside this futuristic museum piece. Who says concept art can’t be art at all?”
