Acura NS-X prototype, 1980. Initial design for the New Sportscar eXperimental where done by Ken Okuyama at Pininfarina, the Italian carrozzeria had been commissioned by Honda in 1984 to create the HP-X (Honda Pininfarina eXperimental) concept. The cars styling was also worked on by Honda Chief Designer Masahito Nakano. The NSX made its first public appearances in 1989, at the Chicago Auto Show (as an Acura) in February and at the Tokyo Motor Show (as a Honda) in October of that year. The car's name was revised from NS-X to NSX before full production and sales started.