Rumor Has it the S2000 Could Return for Honda’s 70th Birthday

by Justin Cupier of www.insidecarnews.com

The S2000 has been at the forefront of Honda fans’ minds ever since the automaker axed the roadster in the U.S. following the 2009 model year. Now, with the Honda S660 and the Acura NSX reigniting the Honda performance flame, the S2K chatter is getting louder than ever. According to a report from Car and Driver, this chatter may actually result in an in-the-flesh model just in time for the brand’s 70th birthday.

This report comes from an insider tip that leads C&D to believe that we could see the S2000 return in 2018. The site’s source told them all about what the brand will do to celebrate its 70th, and in this plan is a Miata-sized vehicle with “a lot more power” than the lightweight Mazda. This points to one likely result, and that’s the return of the S2000.

Many experts have laughed off the possibility of an S2K return by pointing out the fact that Honda no longer has a platform to support a new compact sports car. The insider, however, points out that neither the tiny S660 nor the NSX had platforms either and that Honda had to craft platforms specifically for them. Clearly, if the profit is there, Honda is certainly open to building dedicated platforms for low-volume vehicles.

As for the muscle behind the revived S2000, there is still a little cloudiness. Rumor has it that it would use a detuned version of the Civic Type R’s engine, which is a 2.0-liter four-pot that cranks out 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on the S2000 falling somewhere in the 250- to 275-hrosepower range.

Again, these are still just unconfirmed rumors for now, but they are from a legit source, so there is likely some level of validity to them. Stay tuned for updates.

Source;

http://www.insidercarnews.com/rumor-has-it-the-s2000-could-return-for-hondas-70th-birthday/

AutoExpress: Next Generation Honda S2000 taking shape

Honda's hybrid replacement for the S2000 roadster to feature a 1.5-litre turbo with a total power output of 300bhp and F1 tech

Honda will kick up another gear with plans to introduce a successor to the Honda S2000 roadster in 2018 – and our exclusive main image is the best hint yet at what it will look like.  

Earlier this year, we reported that an S2000 replacement, dubbed the ‘Baby NSX’, would feature a mid-mounted version of the Civic Type R’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Now, according to a source close to Honda, pressure to adhere to stringent emissions regulations has forced the company to downsize the engine to a 1.5-litre turbo which, with electric motor assistance, is expected to generate around 300bhp.

Honda is acutely aware of the popularity of – and the profits to be made from – mid-sized sports cars, especially in the US. Rivals such as the Porsche Cayman, Audi TT, BMW Z4 and even Alfa Romeo 4C will be the targets when the S2000 successor appears in around three years. 

Design inspiration will mainly come from Honda’s flagship NSX, seen in the angular LED headlamps, wide air intakes and sculpted rear end of our image. And while the original S2000 was only available as a roadster, Honda is set to change direction and offer the successor as a coupe only.  

A price of around £50,000 is being targeted, and the S2000 replacement will go some way towards boosting the brand’s image in the US, Europe and other markets like Australia. “The Civic Type R is a good start, but the NSX will be out of reach for many. So Honda really needs a signature mid-engine sports car that does not break the bank and appeals to fans at the same time,” revealed our source. 

Another critical factor for the new coupe is the company’s relationship to Formula One. The new S2000 will incorporate F1 technology and be developed in conjunction with McLaren and Honda’s F1 programme. Our source explained: “When Honda made its last F1 comeback in 1999, it basically coincided with the development of the original S2000. That’s where you got the first-generation’s screaming 9,000rpm engine.”

Source;
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/honda/s2000/92985/new-hybrid-honda-s2000-is-taking-shape

Japanese brand's S2000 successor to get downsized 1.5-litre turbo hybrid power and F1 tech

News of a belated successor for Honda's S2000 roadster has been circulating for a couple of years now, and it seems its technical specifications continue to develop.

Just two months ago we reported that an S2000 replacement was being called the ‘Baby NSX’ inside Honda’s Tochigi R&D centre and that it would get the Civic Type R’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four in a mid-mounted rear-drive application for its showroom debut as early as late 2016.

Now, according to a source close to Honda, pressure to adhere to stringent emissions regulations has forced the company to downsize the engine to a 1.5-litre turbo which, with electric motor assistance, is expected to generate around 220kW.  (NOOOOOO!  No Hybrid sportscar please!)

Insiders also say the scoop renderings you see here courtesy of Japan’s Best Car magazine are “most probably something that Honda leaked on purpose to generate interest”.

In fact, these images are also the same ones Honda lodged with its international patent application for the new mid-size sports car. “That’s why these images are pretty close to what you will see on the finished product,” purports our source.

Honda is acutely aware of the popularity of -- and the profits to be made from -- mid-sized sports cars, especially in the US.  Rivals like the Porsche Cayman, Audi TT, BMW Z4, Mercedes SLK and even BMW i8 will be what Honda will target when the S2000 successor surfaces around 2018.

Aiming for a price bracket of between $75,000 and $100,000 will not only put Honda right in the ballpark, but lift the Japanese brand's flagging image in the US, Europe and other markets like Australia.

“The Civic Type R is a good start, but the NSX will be out of reach for many. So Honda really needs a signature mid-engine sports car that does not break the bank and echoes to fans at the same time.”

Another critical factor for the new coupe is its relationship to Formula 1 – just like the original S2000 it recalls.

The new S2000 will be incorporate F1 technology and be developed in conjunction with (McLaren) Honda’s F1 program, which one Japanese motorsport commentator says will take at least three years to get back onto the F1 podium.

“When Honda made its last F1 comeback in 1999, it basically coincided with the development of the original S2000. That’s where you got the first-generation’s screaming 9000rpm engine from,” said our source.

Source;
http://www.motoring.com.au/news/2015/honda/s2000/honda-targets-mid-size-euro-coupes-53787