RE: And the S2000 is coming back too!
Tuesday 11th December 2012
Talking about the next Civic Type R with chatty Honda R&D man Suehiro Hasshi and his translator (and off-duty race driver) Kotaro Yamamoto the conversation inevitably turns to other high performance Hondas. Specifically, whether we'll ever see another S2000. .
Next NSX has been much teased in conceptsIt's uncertain if Hasshi-san really knows the answer to this, but he's clearly happy to speculate. Ticking them off on his fingers, he runs through the performance machinery Honda used to offer in order of capability: the Beat, the Type R, the S2000 and the NSX.
Beat replacement previewed as EV-STERAnd if you're wondering about the return of the Beat, that's a reference to the Kei-class sports car Honda's shown repeatedly in EV-STER concept form over the last two years. Apparently it's been given the green light.
And the S2000 is coming back too!
Our Honda engineers didn't just want to chat about the new Type R - the S2000 will return too!
Next NSX has been much teased in concepts
He then checks them back in again, "The NSX is confirmed to come back. The Beat is confirmed to come back. The Type R is confirmed to come back..." He wiggles the finger representing the S2000, "There's no-way this one doesn't come back."
What any future S2000 equivalent would be called is undecided, and Hasshi-san also admits that, "honestly speaking there is no complete plan." But it seems there is most definitely an ambition to see it compete amongst the very best in terms of driving enjoyment once again.
Beat replacement previewed as EV-STER
Discussion
Awesome news! The S2000 is probably my favourite of all my cars over the last 15 years - a list including Esprit, V6 GTV, MX5, M3, 996C4S and my current DD a 996 turbo.
It was just simple and huge fun. And that engine had such character. I just hope that whatever comes out of Honda wearing the S2000 badge keeps to the same principles.
Having said that the original can be had for so little money these days...final edition in white please *goes to classifies again*
It was just simple and huge fun. And that engine had such character. I just hope that whatever comes out of Honda wearing the S2000 badge keeps to the same principles.
Having said that the original can be had for so little money these days...final edition in white please *goes to classifies again*
While it's heartening news that Honda seem to be keen to get back into the performance game I can't help but feel a little trepidation. The most interesting\thrilling part of fast Honda's was usually screaming NA engines. Now that these are no longer allowed, what will Honda's USP be? Another turbo'd, German sports car clone would not be interesting to me, let's hope Honda's clever engineers haven't forgotten how to make a fun sports car during their hiatus.
baby g said:
Listing the previous performance hondas without mentioning the ITR? I wonder if there's a market for an affordable 2+2 coupe with around 200bhp..(plus inflation)?
I've no idea of sales figures but how well is the GT-86\BRZ selling as that is exactly what that is? Although in this day and age I don't think 200bhp is enough (yes I am one of those 
)Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff