Sponsored by Idemitsu
When Honda revived one of its most iconic nameplates for 2026, the response from enthusiasts was immediate––and divided.
The return brought unmistakable style, modern technology and a hybrid-only powertrain. But for many Honda fans, one question remained: What could this car have been with more power, more performance and the kind of driver-focused experience that made the original an icon?
Idemitsu Lubricants America and Throtl heard the conversation. Then they decided to answer it.
Now entering the second year of their partnership, Idemitsu and Throtl have spent the past year creating a one-of-a-kind Honda build inspired by what enthusiasts have been asking for. The finished vehicle will make its world premiere at SEMA Show 2026 on Tuesday, November 3, at 10:00 a.m. PST, live from Idemitsu Booth #23753 in the Racing & Performance section of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Exactly which Honda model has been transformed––and what is hiding beneath its hood––will remain a closely guarded secret until the cover comes off.
But if last year's collaboration is any indication, the reveal will be worth the wait.
Taking the Conversation From Online to the Show Floor
The absence of a manual transmission and the decision to offer the revived coupe exclusively with a hybrid powertrain gave Honda enthusiasts plenty to debate. Idemitsu and Throtl saw an opportunity to take that conversation beyond comment sections and online forums.
Rather than simply imagining what might have been, they set out to build it.
The project reinterprets the new Honda with the power, performance, and personality enthusiasts have been craving. While the full specifications remain under wraps, Throtl promises a dramatically reimagined vehicle built to push the platform––and its supporting components––to the limit.
"Our partnership with Throtl has become one of the most anticipated parts of our SEMA presence," said Alexandre Moreira, Marketing Manager at Idemitsu Lubricants America. "Last year's reveal drew huge crowds and media attention at our booth, and this year we wanted to top it by tackling a car that’s on every Honda fan’s mind right now."
The build is designed to do more than attract attention. It also demonstrates what becomes possible when bold aftermarket thinking is supported by more than a century of lubrication expertise.
"Idemitsu has been engineering lubricants purpose-built for Japanese engines for generations," Moreira added. "This build is a perfect showcase of what our oils can do when a car is pushed to its absolute limit."
A Partnership Built for JDM Fans
Idemitsu and Throtl first joined forces at SEMA 2025, bringing bold, unmistakably Japanese performance builds to an audience that lives and breathes automotive culture.
The collaboration was a natural fit.
Founded in 2015 by brothers Evan and Rick Beckerman, Throtl has grown into a leading automotive media brand and e-commerce platform. Its massive catalog includes more than 400,000 performance and aftermarket parts, while its automotive content reaches a community of more than four million followers.
Behind those numbers is a genuine enthusiasm for car culture. Throtl has built its reputation by taking ambitious ideas, finding the right platforms, and transforming them into finished vehicles that feel exciting, surprising, and authentic to the enthusiast community.
"Last year we showed up and showed out at SEMA," said Throtl Co-Founder Evan Beckerman. "This year, we’re taking on the build every Honda fan has been arguing about online for months."
That makes the latest collaboration more than another custom car debut. It is a direct response to the fans who looked at Honda’s revived icon and imagined an entirely different kind of performance machine.
"We can't say what it is or what's under the hood just yet," Beckerman added, "But once people see it, they will be absolutely amazed. Idemitsu has been with us every step of the way, and without their oil, this build wouldn’t survive what we’re about to put it through."
More Than 110 Years of Japanese Lubrication Expertise
For Idemitsu, supporting a radically transformed Japanese performance car is backed by generations of experience.
Since 1911, Idemitsu has developed premium lubricants engineered to meet exacting performance requirements. Today, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. is recognized as one of the world's top lubricant manufacturers, with products supporting everything from everyday transportation to high-performance automotive applications.
Idemitsu has also served as a trusted factory-fill supplier to leading Japanese automakers for more than 65 years. Its original-equipment relationships have included brands such as Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Subaru, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Infiniti.
That experience provides an intimate understanding of Japanese engines, transmissions and drivetrains––and of how the correct lubricant can help protect their performance.
Idemitsu's full line of synthetic motor oils is formulated specifically for the demands of Japanese engines, from stock daily drivers to extensively modified performance builds. That is especially important when a vehicle is pushed beyond its original specifications, where increased power, heat and mechanical stress place even greater demands on every component.
It is also what makes the partnership with Throtl feel authentic. Throtl brings the vision, creativity and connection to enthusiast culture. Idemitsu brings the lubrication technology and Japanese original-equipment expertise needed to support that vision.
Together, they are building the Honda enthusiasts wished for.
See the Vehicle Revealed at SEMA 2026
The speculation ends November 3.
Visit Idemitsu Booth #23753 at 10:00 a.m. PST during the 2026 SEMA Show to witness the world premiere, meet the Throtl team, explore Idemitsu's racing and performance lineup, and see what happens when more than 110 years of Japanese lubrication expertise meets one of the most debated new vehicles in the enthusiast community.
The model is still a secret. The performance will speak for itself.
You wished it. Idemitsu and Throtl built it.
Visit idemitsulubricants.com for more information.
