Honda S2000 sports car to return as Mazda MX-5 rival

Prospective Rendering

Not the Official Car

Iconic S2000 badge to return on a new rear-drive roadster, which will be powered by turbocharged 1.5 and 2.0-litre engines; Type R version possible

by John McIlroy of www.autocar.co.uk

Honda is taking aim at the Mazda MX-5 and Fiat’s forthcoming 124 Spider by developing a successor to its popular S2000 roadster, company insiders have revealed.

Introduced in 1999, the original version of the Japanese manufacturer’s two-seat roadster garnered a reputation for its strong powertrain and lively handling, but the second edition of the car was axed in 2009.

Now a third generation is said to be under development as Honda tries to reconnect with the S2000’s dedicated fan base. Representatives from Honda’s advanced engineering department are said to have attended a recent S2000 owners’ club event in the British Isles - a sign that the firm wants to listen to enthusiasts in order to help it to position the next version of the car accurately.

The new S2000 will stay true to the original’s principles of a front-mounted engine, sited behind the axle line, and rear-wheel drive. It will be pitched as a faster alternative to the MX-5, although its performance should be more of a match for that car’s stablemate, the forthcoming Fiat 124 Spider, which uses a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine instead of the Mazda’s naturally aspirated 1.5 and 2.0-litre units.

Honda has a number of powerplants under consideration for its roadster. More basic editions of the car could be powered by a retuned version of the firm’s forthcoming 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The four-cylinder unit has VTEC variable valve timing and produces around 150bhp in the Japanese-market vehicles it powers. This is likely to be ramped up to around 180bhp for the most modest S2000, giving the car around 25bhp more than the most powerful MX-5 and beating the US-market 124’s 158bhp.

This would leave scope for a hotter variant that could use a detuned version of the Civic Type R’s 306bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. It would also feature more extreme suspension and chassis settings, including a rear limited-slip differential, and could give Honda a useful extension to its Type R sub-brand, as well as a rival for the more potent, Abarth-badged 124. All versions of the car would feature a short-throw six-speed manual gearbox.

The biggest obstacle in the way of the S2000 replacement is the absence of a suitable platform. Honda is committing to a new global architecture for front-wheel-drive cars, including the next generation of Civic, which is due on sale in the UK in 2017, but its opportunities to spread the costs of a rear-wheel drive chassis are more limited.

It is therefore likely to pitch the car as a more expensive rival to the MX-5 in a bid to maintain workable margins, with pricing starting north of £20,000. It could slot the model into the line-up of its premium Acura brand in the United States, where it would be a rival to BMW’s next Z4 and the Audi TT Roadster.

Honda has been working on a number of sports car projects as it looks to rebuild its reputation as a manufacturer of enthusiasts’ models as well as more mainstream products and capitalise on its struggling F1 programme with McLaren.

It is understood that a mid-engined, turbocharged ‘baby NSX’ is also under consideration, but company officials have prioritised a return to the open-top two-seater market.

Honda’s global boss, Takahiro Hachigo, recently revealed that despite the NSX’s trick hybrid set-up, future sports cars from the company would not all need to have electric motors in their powertrains. “Whether or not we develop a hybrid depends on the type of car,” he said. “It is not the case that we have a fixed notion that a sports car always has to be a hybrid.”

Honda has decided that the diminutive S660 roadster that’s sold in Japan would not have a broad enough appeal to justify homologation in other markets. Hachigo said: “If there is strong demand from a region then we will always consider possibilities, but the S660 is a car that was developed for the Japanese market and we’d have to do a lot of work on it to make it comply with European regulations. I also wonder: would a car like this, sold in Asia, succeed in Europe?”

He did admit that Honda was considering sports cars beyond the NSX, however. “We are receiving requests from our regions who are saying they would like more sports cars, so we are considering ways to do that,” he added.

Engineers have also been working on a four-motor, all-electric sports car, as demonstrated by the SH-AWD CR-Z that finished 11th in this year’s Pikes Peak hillclimb in Colorado, but the commercialisation of that project faces a number of challenges, not least the cost of the lithium ion battery technology required to deliver the targeted range of 300 miles per full charge.Hachigo admitted that Honda had damaged its image by “abandoning” products such as the S2000 that had a strong reputation and hardcore fan base. The firm did have plans for a successor to the second generation of the car, but these were scrapped in the midst of the global automotive and financial crises in 2009.

It is believed that the firm’s European boss, Toshiaki Mikoshiba, has been given specific targets to improve continuity and nurture customer retention, as well as reducing the gap between product launches in Japan and the US and the arrival of those cars in Europe. The new HR-V and Jazz — plus the newly launched US-market Civic — are seen as prime examples of cars taking too long to reach European customers.

“We need consistency to build the brand,” said Hachigo. “We want to enhance the cars that we’ve already introduced. We are also working so we can introduce models more quickly to Europe. It’s a very important market for us.”

Honda is the latest Japanese brand to publicly state its goal to produce more cars that are fun to drive, although if the firm does get a new, rear-wheel-drive S2000 to market on its own, it will be bucking the recent trend for joint developments. Mazda and Fiat collaborated on the MX-5 and 124, while Toyota joined forces with Subaru to get access to the boxer engines that give the GT86 the handling agility that was the focus for the project.

Toyota is also working with BMW on a sports car platform that’s expected to underpin different sizes of car. BMW will place it under the next Z4 and its Japanese partner will use it to underpin a larger coupé that could carry the Supra badge.

However, some Japanese manufacturers are developing standalone sports car projects. Mazda is working on a rotary-engined successor to the RX-7 and RX-8 and Nissan is considering an expansion of its Z sub-brand.

Honda's S2000 is also seen as an investment car - read more in our used car buying guide.

The cars the new S2000 must beat
Fiat/Abarth 124 Spider - Sister car to the MX-5, the 124 Spider has more power and torque thanks to Fiat’s 1.4 turbo Multiair engine. UK-spec 124s will have a 138bhp engine at launch, but sources are speaking about an Abarth version with at least 168bhp, a more focused chassis and the option of a fixed roof.

BMW Z4 - BMW had been considering a baby front-drive roadster, but that project is on hold, so the next Z4 will remain the firm’s smallest drop-top for now. It’ll be spun off a platform developed with Toyota, although the Japanese brand is expected to use the architecture to build a larger model.

Nissan Z-Car - While Nissan’s Gripz concept shows how it plans to extend the Z line-up to include crossovers, that car is seen as an extension to the sub-brand, not a replacement for the rear-drive sports car. Expect the next Z to use a turbo four-cylinder engine and cost less than the outgoing 370Z.

Mazda MX-5 - No-frills roadster has received widespread acclaim in its latest generation, which makes do with modest 1.5 and 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engines but sheds weight to ensure decent performance and fantastic handling agility. Its pricing could make the Honda look expensive, too.

Alpine A120 - Reborn French brand’s two-seater is due next year. It will use a 250bhp 1.8-litre turbo engine, but a 300bhp version is also planned. Hardcore dynamics will appeal to the enthusiasts Honda hopes to snare with the S2000, but the A120 will cost more, with prices starting at about £30,000.

Comment - would the S660 work in Europe? 
Honda does have a drop-top sports car in its line-up, but only in Japan - and it should really stay there. The S660 is a kei car, designed to beat Japanese vehicle tax rules, and as such it is (a) tiny and (b) modestly powered by a 660cc engine.

We had a chance to try the car on the eve of this year’s Tokyo motor show, and while it has some fine characteristics, including a particularly sweet short-throw gearshift, it would also be outgunned pretty much anywhere outside of town.

Even if you did have the patience to get it up to motorway speeds, the extreme wind buffeting would probably persuade you to back off.

The cabin is minuscule, too, and anyone more than 6ft tall would struggle to find a comfortable seating position. Honda’s bosses say the costs of homologating the car for sales outside Japan couldn’t be justified by the potential sales, and for all the S660’s charm, we’re inclined to agree. If the firm wants a genuine rival for roadsters such as the MX-5 and 124 Spider -the car that it freely admits its regions are asking for - it’ll need to try harder.

Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/honda-s2000-sports-car-return-mazda-mx-5-rival

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

'Baby NSX' could emerge as a cheaper, less powerful Honda coupe to slot below Acura NSX

New information from inside Honda indicates its all-new 'baby NSX', which was approved for production in mid-2014, will be based on the same platform as the new NSX but fitted with a less expensive and less expensive powertrain.

As we reported in April, Honda's plans for a three-model mid-engined sports car family, include a more powerful 'S1000' export version of the mid-engined S660 mini-roadstercar at the bottom and the new NSX hybrid supercar flagship at the top.

In between, apart from a successor for the CR-Z hybrid due by 2018, Honda is also plotting a radical replacement for the S2000 roadster, to slot neatly into the middle of its mid-engined two-door line-up.

In the last month however, baby NSX news has heated up significantly following the appearance of a patent drawing of the car, which according to a source close to Honda has “some merit.”

As you can see from our artist’s rendering, which is based on the patent drawing of the futuristic mid-size, mid-engined coupe, the proportions are very similar to that of the NSX.

In fact, when a similar image of the NSX is laid over that of the baby NSX, their proportions, wheelbases and powerplant positioning appear to be almost identical.

Another lesson from the apparently official rendering is that the baby NSX is a lot further along its development pathway than previously understood.

Indeed, our source has confirmed the car's exterior is “for all intents and purposes, completed" and that – given its main market will be the US -- the all-new coupe could make its global debut as early as Los Angeles motor show or the Detroit show in January.

The design and timing news backs our previous report that the baby NSX project has been driven largely by North American Honda dealers, who will not have access to the NSX because it will be sold in the US as an Acura.

While Honda's US luxury brand will have an all-new halo model in the NSX, US Honda dealers want some of the sports car action too.

We understand Honda has obliged by employing an almost identical platform to the NSX, dropping in a turbocharged 2.0-litre hybrid unit and fitting an electronic SH-AWD (Super Handling – AWD) system with all-wheel steer, thus fast-tracking the development of a cheaper sports car that was also lighter and therefore not much slower.

As for where Honda will build the baby NSX, our source says the company has two choices – alongside the NSX in the US or on the world’s only dedicated mid-engined vehicle production line in Yokkaichi near Suzuka, where the S660, Vamos and Acty mini-cars are made.

“It’s not impossible to build a baby NSX in Yokkaichi, but we are close to capacity here now and would need to extensively retool to assemble such a coupe," said one engineer.

Therefore it's almost certain the born-again S2000 will be produced in North America, where it should emerge within six months.

Whether it comes to Australia — where the NSX itself, badged as a Honda, is due on sale by the end of next year — is anyone's guess.

Source;
http://www.motoring.com.au/news/2015/honda/honda-planning-cut-price-nsx-52754

Rumours Update: Next Honda/Acura S2000 Sketch

Rumours of what the replacement S2000 are;
-280-350HP Turbo 2.0L Engine (same as what's in the upcoming 2015 Civic Type R in Europe).
-SH-AWD

Source;
http://visions-autos.blog.sport24.lefigaro.fr/788805/Honda-Acura-une-probable-Berlinette/

Honda S2000 Rumored to Come Back as a Mid-Engined Sportscar

A recent report from British media suggests Honda's legendary S2000 sportscar is coming back with a vengeance. A few years ago, before production stopped, it was one of the most coveted cheap performance vehicles and it seems Honda wants to rekindle that fire, giving the rest of its lineup an image boost. The name will be the same, but the technology will be different. By placing the engine in the middle of the car, Honda will ensure most of the old rivals, outside Porsche of course, will not be able to compete. If the project does get approval for Japanese officials, it will be something special!

Power for the new S2000 would come from a 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with VTEC technology. No such mill exists at the moment, but Honda has been developing it together with the new Civic Typer R. That hot hatch is rumored to have 300 horsepower and will not go on sale until it's the fastest FWD car in the world. The S2000 will have even more power, about 350 hp, and could even be helped by electric motors.

By comparison, the old S2000 was a lot simpler. It came with a screaming 2-liter naturally aspirated engine that made 250 hp at 8,300  rpm. The red line didn't come in until 9,000 rpm. Switching to turbocharging and hybrid tech will give the new car a more relaxed attitude, but straight-line performance is sure to be impressive, as will the low emissions.

For now, the S2000 is but a rumor. Autoexpress magazine says it's heard from a Honda insider about a secret in-house meeting at Honda's Tochigi R&D center to discuss the project. Even if approved today, the car would still not be ready until 2017.

This could just be one of those reports that cause a bit of stir in fan communities, only to vanish completely after a few years. The fact that it's such a wild idea and it's conveniently accompanied by a sharp-looking renderings suggests our British source could just be fishing for a story. But Honda would definitely not be in the wrong if it decided to bring the S2000 back.

Killed off in 2009 after a 10-year career, the S2000 is a victim of emissions laws and high fuel prices. Mid-way in its life cycle, the automaker was forced to switch from a 2-liter to a 2.2-liter that didn't rev as highly and eventually had to admit thirsty sportscar weren't sellable.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-s2000-rumored-to-come-back-as-a-mid-engined-sportscar-81128.html

Beautiful Honda S3000 Concept Sketch by Xanforce

Nice work.

Nice 2016 Honda S2000 Rendering by Martin Designs

I stumbled across this little beauty and thought I'd pass it along.  It's a nice rendering of what Martin thinks the direction of the replacement for the S2000 Roadster should be.  I got to say, I like it.  Feel free to check out this link and vote on his 'chop'.

http://www.autemo.com/profiles/?id=Martin

Honda designer talks about Next Sportscar

TOKYO -- Honda Motor Co., aiming to re-energize its performance cred, is studying a revival of an S2000-type sporty car.

The automaker's top exterior designer says he wants a midlevel sporty car added to the lineup between the two sports cars under development. A revived Acura NSX will debut atop the automaker's lineup in 2015. And at the bottom, Honda is targeting Japan with a sporty minicar inspired by the Small Sports EV Concept shown at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.

"We are making the NSX and the small sporty minicar," Toshinobu Minami said in a recent interview at Honda's global design center. "Naturally, I personally want something in between."

Although his comments represented his own ambitions, such an entry was under study, he said. He declined to give details.

To properly nurture sports-car nameplates, a company must keep making them, Minami said, criticizing Honda's decision to drop sports cars when the global financial crisis hit.

"Don't quit," said Minami, who oversees global exterior design for the Acura and Honda brands. "Quitting the NSX and the S2000 is the thing I regret most."

Honda dropped the NSX in 2005 and scrubbed plans to revive it in 2008, as the foundering global economy undercut earnings. The company said at the time it needed more practical offerings. In January 2009, it said it was killing the S2000 roadster, a jaunty rear-wheel-drive, four-cylinder convertible, after a 10-year run.

Each car had a loyal following.

It is important to keep selling sporty cars "no matter what condition the company is in," Minami said. "It maintains that relationship with the customer."

He said the Honda brand's current sporty offering, the hybrid CR-Z compact hatchback, fills an important niche because of its electrified drivetrain. But the lineup also needs a more traditional driver's car, he said.

"I want to keep hybrid sports cars like the CR-Z," Minami said. "I also want to do something like the original S2000 we used to have. I want to do both."

Rediscovering Honda's roots is a top priority, he said.

"We have lost a bit of our sportiness while retaining good functionality," Minami said. "First, we want sportiness. The thing I want most is to recover our uniqueness."


Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20131007/OEM03/310079963/honda-designer-wants-sporty-car#axzz2h2kxNbFD

SCOOP: HONDA WORKING ON RWD COMPACT SPORTS CAR

With a long-standing tradition of building compact, open-top sports cars that started with the S600 and recently ended with the S2000, Honda seems intent to get back into the game. After seeing the success Toyota/Subaru has had with the 86 (Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ), Honda is primed to one-up its rivals.  According to a source within Honda, a new affordable sports car is being seriously considered, but don’t expect something as high-end as the S2000…think small, quick and light. Here’s what we learned:

Many Honda engineers and executives believe that they were beat to the punch when Toyota/Subaru introduced its affordable rear-drive sports offering. And now that they know the market is hungry again for exciting affordable sports cars, a new “S1500” is on the drawing board within the walls of the company’s Tokyo headquarters. The car would be small, probably even smaller than the Mazda MX-5, and come equipped with either a 1.3-liter or 1.5-liter inline-4 with i-VTEC. If the latter, it could well be the current engine under the Fit’s hood that can produce up to 132 hp. The car would be very light, about 900 kg or right at about 2000 lb., making it very quick and agile. It would of course be rear-drive, and come with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Our source says he would like to see the car priced around $20,000. There’s even talk that the “S1500” may come with a mid-engine layout, a la the Honda Beat.

As for the car’s design direction, we hear that Honda would either use the Japan-only N-ONE as the base (as pictured here) or make it look more like the current Civic. We like the N-ONE styling because it pays homage to the S600. Either way, look for Honda to come up with this answer to the Toyota 86 and the Mazda MX-5 in 2015 or 2016.

Source (via www.autoblog.com);
http://www.gtchannel.com/blog/scoop-honda-working-rwd-compact-sports-car

MotorTrend: Hot Or Not? Honda Shows S2000 Modulo Climax Concept At Tokyo Auto Salon

Written by: Evan McCausland
Most of Honda’s show cars for this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon are fairly typical – a gussied-up Kei car here, a tricked-out N-ONE there, and so one. One, however, stands out from the crowd of decked-out microcars, and for good reason: it’s an S2000.

Meet the new S2000 Modulo Climax. We’re not exactly sure how Honda arrived at that particular name (and we’re not sure we want to know), but Honda has used the Modulo name on several ranges of body kits and exterior dress-up accessories – and this particular S2000 sports both.

Undoubtedly, the new front clip is the biggest change from a stock S2000 roadster. The new nose is longer than before, giving way to a hexagonal grille opening that’s bisected by a large chrome crossbar, which sweeps into the corners of the fascia. A new tonneau cover provides enclosed fairings for the rollbar hoops, while a pair of canard-like winglets are placed on the corners of the rear decklid. The rear bumper fascia is revised to incorporate two large air outlets, while the diffuser is whittled away to make room for two large exhaust tips. Modulo also appears to have contributed a set of chromed 10-spoke alloy wheels, although Honda makes no mention of their size or construction.

Interior amendments aren’t quite as extensive as those applied to the S2000’s exterior. The stock seats are replaced by new leather-clad, Modulo-branded bucket seats, which boast inserts and contrast stitching color keyed to the car’s exterior paint. The shift boot and steering wheel are privy to similar stitching, as are the floor mats, which appear to be made from a woven, mesh-like material that resembles carbon fiber.

What can we make of this? Some Honda faithful are proclaiming the S2000 Modulo Climax as the second coming of the S2000 – or, for that matter, a good hint at what the company’s forthcoming sports roadster will look like. An interesting theory, perhaps, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Although the S2000 Modulo Climax is but a concept at this point in time, Honda says the car simply previews a new range of accessories it has in store for its discontinued roadster.

Is it unusual for an automaker to offer these sorts of parts three years after a vehicle was dropped from the lineup? Perhaps, but it’s not unprecedented – in fact, Modulo recently offered a range of add-ons for the Beat and NSX, which ended production in 1996 and 2005, respectively.

But what say you? Does Honda’s new range of Modulo parts only improve upon the S2000’s looks, or do they make it look a little like a Daihatsu Storia? Send your thoughts in the comments section below.

Source;
http://wot.motortrend.com/hot-or-not-honda-shows-s2000-modulo-climax-concept-at-tokyo-auto-salon-308927.html#axzz2GJcSvK5B

Acura has been secretly developing Mid-Engine – AWD baby NSX

I've known this for awhile....

Secrets out! Motor Trend recently reported that Acura has been developing a smaller more agile NSX along with the regular NSX for quite some time now.   No, it’s not an S2000 successor, but a Mid-Engine, AWD car that is set to blow the doors off it’s competition, and one that could actually save the NSX project all together.


When Acura first started developing this car, it had a major “Maybe” factor.  At first it was just a few R&D ideas thrown together.  But soon Acura came to the realization that this project could actually work.

We don’t have any concrete information on this car as of yet, but the “Baby NSX” is likely to be powered by a Turbo-Charged, Direct injection engine.  Developing the big NSX wasn’t all a waste though, as Acura will be using many of the technologies from that project and directly fuse it to the it’s baby brother.   Think of it as a smaller Hybrid of two NSX’s.   This will also help recoup some of the costs involved in the years spent R&D’s the bigger car.

Expect to see the smaller NSX on dealer lots by 2017 with a price range between $50,000 & $60,000.  Not bad!

Source;
http://www.sidewaysat11.com/acura-has-been-secretly-developing-mid-engine-awd-baby-nsx/

Honda Beat on Track for Production

by Noah Joseph

 

New roadster from Honda could be based on Fit/Jazz. 

 

Back in the early 90s, Honda made a small mid-engined, rear-drive roadster called the Beat, a tiny Kei car roadster designed by Pininfarina. It was the last car overseen by company founder Soichiro Honda before he died, when Honda's current president Takanobu Ito was working on developing the original NSX. "I was kind of envious of the little cute sports car," admitted Ito in a recent speech in the United States, in which the Japanese auto exec revealed that Honda would bring revive the Beat with a new compact sports car.

 

We first reported on plans for a Honda Beat revival back in June 2011, when it seemed that the roadster would be based on the CR-Z hybrid sport-hatch. Now it seems, however, that the Beat will more likely borrow its underpinnings from the Fit with a design derived from the EV-STER and OSM concepts, though its powertrain could go either conventional or hybrid. One way or another, don't expect the Beat to retain the mid-engine/rear-drive layout of its predecessor, as the new roadster is more likely to go front-drive. Whether that proves enough for Honda to take on the likes of the Subaru BRZ/Toyota GT86/Scion FR-S, or even the Mazda MX-5 Miata, remains to be seen.

Source;

http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2012/10/15/Honda-Beat-on-Track-for-Production-7711168/

MotorTrend: Mini Acura NSX Back on the Table

Shrunken Supercar Rumored to Get AWD, Mid-Engine Layout

While the stillborn, V-10-powered NSX was being developed, Honda was also working on a related and obscure project referred to internally as the Small NSX. At the time it was just one of several advanced R&D ideas sitting in the design room. Then the financial crisis hit, causing Honda to kill the NSX and shelve all other sports car projects. But Honda has since rebounded, and as we know, the NSX has been reborn as an all-wheel drive hybrid. Now we're hearing the Small NSX may be back on the drawing board as well.

 

While the words "Small NSX" may conjure up visions of a successor to the S2000, our inside source tells us this is not the case, and that it will look much like a shrunken version of the big-boy NSX, something along the lines of the car you see in this artist's impression. Our source also tells us that like the NSX, it will be equipped with a version of Honda's SH-AWD system.

Power will likely be provided by a turbocharged direct-injection engine. Honda currently has a number of engines that could fit the bill, including the 3.5-liter V-6, 2.4-liter I-4, and 2.0-liter I-4 already offered in several of its American-market products. Given Honda's America-focused development, overseas engines such as its 660cc and 1.0-liter mills are unlikely to be considered. Of the possible three, the 2.4-liter is the most likely candidate. There's also the possibility that it will be fitted with some kind of hybrid drivetrain.

 

Our source also tells us the Small NSX will make use of a number of parts from the NSX to help recoup development costs. Given that both cars will be developed at Honda of America's R&D center in Ohio (we're told that in July Honda HQ assigned several of its top test drivers and engineers to the facility for a five-year stint), it's a logical move. The NSX remains on track to return for the 2015 model year. If it's indeed green-lit, the Small NSX could follow a year or two afterward, before the drivers and engineers head home in 2017. Don't expect it to be a bargain sports car, however. Given the amount of DNA it's likely to share with the NSX, the Small NSX would likely cost between $50,000 and $60,000.

 

Source;

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2012/1209_mini_acura_nsx_back_on_the_table/

Japan Car Design Corner: Honda may be readying a Small Convertible (Honda BEAT?)

This is not a new rumour and Japanese Best Car Magazine has revealed another rendering of Honda's upcoming open top sports car. It seems that the new sports car won't be a Kei car, but instead, it will be based on the CR-Z. Also, Honda is also about to reveal an updated CR-Z

Source;
http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.ca/2012/09/honda-readies-small-open-top-sports-car.html

Another Next Gen Honda BEAT Illustration?

Honda has been working on a next gen Beat and here could be one redition of the car....
Source;
http://www.burlappcars.com/2011/09/hondas-miata-fighter-coming-up.html

BESTCAR Front Cover: Next Gen Honda Beat Rendering

Let's hope that if they do 'green light' something like this that we see this here in North America.

Source;

http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/07/latest-rendering-of-upcoming-honda-beat.html

Next Gen Honda Beat getting closer?!?

Straight from www.woodyscarsite.com ;

"Only 33,600 sold from 1991-1996. It is already a classic by Honda standards and the last model to be approved from Mr. Honda himself. The Beat's aim was to challenge the Suzuki Cappuccino and the future Smart Roadster if the model would have continued. It's failure might have been the lack of power. No turbo or supercharger was ever offered to its 656cc engine. Can you blame customers?20 some years later with the advancement of VTEC, Honda can easily afford to spawn a newer version. With the S2000 out of the spotlight, it is an easy win."

Source;
http://www.woodyscarsite.com/2011/06/revival-new-honda-beat-convertible.html

Below are some earlier sketches of the vehilce. I think this would fit nicely into Honda's lineup.

Honda's Next Sportscar?

Stumbled across this in a recent S2000 fan site forum, interesting, they say that they found it in Road & Track; "According to R&T, this will be a 3.5 liter V6 based on the JDM Accord. The speculation is that the car will have 200 - 250 bhp and will sell in the $25,000 to $30,000 range. They say the car will hit dealers next year!" hmmm, wouldn't be too excited about seeing this car next year.... Source; http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/850960-s2000-replacement/

Road & Track: Honda Contemplates a CR-Z Convertible

September 24, 2010 by Sam Mitani

We have reported about the possibility of an S2000 successor for many months, and now we’re hearing reports that it may indeed happen, but not in the way we previously imagined. Our sources in Tokyo have told us that Honda is putting a priority on adding a sports car in its lineup; the execs feel that a sports car is a necessity to uphold its brand image. While there have been many debates and arguments within the walls of Honda HQ’s Aoyama-based offices buildings about the details of the car, many believe that the best first step may be to use the CR-Z hybrid car’s platform. Despite its front-drive layout, performance will be increased via a stronger engine and lighter weight. If such a car can be created, it would go up against the likes of the Mazda MX-5. After this car is established, then Honda would move on to create a rear-drive high-powered sports car, probably with a hybrid powerplant. We’ll keep you up to date as news develops.

Source (via autoblog);
http://blog.roadandtrack.com/honda-contemplates-a-cr-z-convertible/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter