Does this patent rendering hint at a new Honda S2000?

Interesting, would be nice, if true, how about a nice hardtop 'Prelude' Edition....we can dream....

by Wesley Wren of www.autoweek.com

The Honda S2000 is closing in on its 20th birthday and the 10th anniversary of its death. While Honda does make some small roadsters for the Japanese market, there's no Mazda MX-5 Miata competition stateside. However, if these patent drawings are any hint, it looks like Honda is scheming up another open-air sports car.

If you look at the gallery above, you'll see that the styling is more dramatic than that of the familiar Honda S2000 -- and might be a sign that this Honda could, in fact, be slotted underneath the Acura NSX in Acura’s lineup. That’d make sense, judging by the likely mid-engine layout of this patent drawing. Last year, Honda patents for a similarly styled fixed-top coupe dubbed “ZSX” popped up, which could be another sign that this roadster will get Acura badges if it hits production.


Even if this does get the Acura badge, it wouldn't eliminate hope of a new Honda S2000. The Acura platform could trickle down into a less-luxe package and that could revive the rev-happy roadster. With budget sports cars like the Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 and Mazda MX-5 Miata roadsters drawing enthusiasts onto lots, we hope it makes sense for Honda to bring a budget-friendly sports roadster back to market.

Source:

 http://autoweek.com/article/rumormill/could-be-new-honda-s2000#ixzz4sTZDmUC9

Honda’s S660 Roadster Spotted In Tennessee

by Paolo Acoba of www.artofgears.com

A lone Honda S660 was spotted on a Tennesse interstate in RHD trim. 

Update: Rumor has it that this particular model is owned by the Lane Motor Museum. They also have a Honda Beat in their collection, the predecessor to this S660.

It looks like the rumor mill for a Honda S660 being exported for other markets is alive and well and this latest spotting surely adds fuel to that fire. According to Chicagoland Petrolheads and car meets member Paul Bulthuis, this particularly clean looking Honda S660 in right-hand drive trim was spotted on Interstate 65 just three miles north of Murfreesboro.

Rumors based on a couple of quotes from Honda management have been floating around for a couple of months now stating how Honda is trying its best to ready this kei-car for U.S. export. Albeit if it makes it down here there’ll be a bit more punch under the rear engine cover. These latest photos certainly stoke our interest as to what this little roadster is doing on U.S. soil. Check out a couple of photos of the potential Miata fighter below and let us know what you think about this car coming over the Pacific in the comments below.

If our motoring friends down under are to be believed, according to their inside source earlier last week,  a special Honda S1000 is already greenlighted for international export. Instead of the 660cc three-cylinder currently churning away underneath the S660, Honda already has a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder developed by Mugen ready to shoehorned in its place. This’ll take the roadster from 63 HP all the way to a more palatable 125 HP.

When Top Gear tested out this new 1.0 turbo triple (in FWD trim btw) they were impressed by how much torque this powerplant had. Stuff it in a car that already weighs a lithe 1,830 pounds and you’ve got the recipe for some real fun.

According to Paul, compared to other American sized cars surrounding the roadster, it looked small. As it should be. Being a good two feet shorter in length than a Miata, there are few cars on the road as short as an S660. It is as wide as a Miata though. Wikipedia lists an S1000 with slightly larger dimensions in length, width and height but no source to back it up.

Honda is doing its best to bring exciting products to market. With the introduction of the Honda Civic with 1.5T (that happens to be killing it in the showrooms), its best-selling Accord and the all-new Acura NSX, Honda is off to a strong start on its revival here in the states. If this S660 to S1000 sighting makes the leap to a confirmed statement of development from Honda, who knows what other exciting products they might have up their sleeves.

We’ve reached out to Honda for comment but have heard nothing back yet. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

For those interested in seeing what the front end looks like....

Source;
https://artofgears.com/2016/04/04/hondas-s660-roadster-spotted-in-tennessee/

Honda S660 Mugen

Source;
http://www.mugen-power.com/automobile/products/s660/

VIDEO: Honda S660 in Action (First Drive)

Next Generation Honda Beat, AKA S660 Spied in full production form

by Andrew Hard of www.digitaltrends.com

Honda’s new mid-engine, turbocharged two-door (not this one) was given the green light for 2015 production last year, and a finalized version has just been photographed in Japan. Yes, the Honda S660 ‘baby roadster’ has been spotted in the wild.

The photos come from Minkara and show the small Kei car in the metal. Those familiar with the Japanese vehicle class will not be surprised by the S660’s small stature, as Kei car laws state that they may not exceed 133.8 inches long or 58.2 inches wide. That’s 1.5 feet shorter and 9.9 inches skinnier than the current Mazda MX-5, by the way.

As previously reported, the roadster takes styling cues from the Honda Beat, a small convertible produced from 1991 to 1996. The production iterant is actually quite similar to the S660 Concept, albeit with smaller wheels and a more traditional lighting setup. Inside, the heavily stylized steering wheel and seats have been swapped for more conventional units.

The photos show the car idling at a shipping port, possibly awaiting transport to dealers across Japan. The vehicle is not headed stateside as far as we know.

The mid-engined S660 features a 660-cc turbocharged three-cylinder bolted behind the seats, boasting a scant 63 horsepower as per Kei regulations. It’s not exactly an NSX, but remember that the roadster weighs less than 2,000 pounds, has a low center of gravity, and employs a near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution.
The S660 is Honda’s first convertible Kei car since the Beat was retired in 1996.

As we reported last November, Honda may also be mulling a hotter S1000 version, which could equip a 1.0-liter turbocharged engine with 140 hp. Highly-respected Honda tuner Mugen is reportedly involved in the vehicle’s development

Source;
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/2015-honda-s600-production-pictures-specs/#/6

Is Honda's S660 Targeting U.S. Markets?

Honda light weight sports car S660, which aroused much excitement among auto enthusiasts around the globe, will probably target U.S. clients in future. The open top, two-seat car is expected to hit Japanese market by March with a price tag of around $17,000. The concept model was unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January 2015.

The new model has certain resemblances to Honda Beat Roadster that was launched in early 1990's. Beat was a 'Kei car' with a turbocharged 660 cc rear drive engine. S660 has a 660 cc engine with 63 horsepower at 600 rpm and rear wheels with six-speed manual. The car is light and would weigh 1830 pounds and 2116 pounds with accessories

There were reports that Honda was planning for more power S 1000 for exports.

Honda S1000/S660

by RTT Staff Writer

Source;
http://www.rttnews.com/2457531/is-honda-s-s660-targeting-u-s-markets.aspx

Honda S660 specifications revealed in new brochure leak

 

Looks like they are getting closer to the release date of this small two-seater, not sure what the plans are for North America on this car;

Here is the concept version of the car.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/115010286684/honda-660-specifications-revealed-in-new-brochure-leak

Honda’s EVster Concept Needs to Be the New Honda Beat in 2014

by Joe Borras of www.gas2.org

This is the Honda EVster concept … and, after seeing it myself, I am ready to go on the record. The Honda EVster needs to be the new Beat.

For the uninitiated, the Honda Beat was the last Honda to be overseen by the great Soichiro Honda himself. It was a tiny, 600 cc roadster that topped out at speeds that might have gotten it crushed on US highways, but on a tight and twisty mountain road on a sunny day, it was (by all accounts) a sublime piece of simple, light-handling fun. Back in 1991, it looked like this …

1991 Honda Beat

… the EVster above, though, is a bit more exciting. It’s looks a bit heavy on the Michael Bay, I know, but the photos don’t convey how tiny this thing really is. It’s cute and adorable, it’s fun and light and breezy and if you don’t want one you’re probably dead inside.

I know there’s some debate on the new Beat, which Honda has been promising (threatening?) for a decade or so, now. Other outlets are pointing to the CRZ roadster concept and saying that’s the new Beat – but, if it is, then Honda has truly lost its way. A new Honda Del Sol? Sure, make this thing a new-age Del Sol, if you must. No one misses that frog-eyed runabout … but the Beat? The Beat, like the NSX, is a legend, and Honda needs to get this one right.

How right does the EVster get? Honda’s electrics are proven, reliable, and deliver 100% of their torque off the line, making for a new-age Honda Beat that will be quick and squirty in heavy traffic, where the diminutive Kei cars compete with scooters for the title of “fastest way to get from A-B in rush hour”. In other words: it will be perfect.

EVster for 2014 Honda Beat.

Source;

http://gas2.org/2013/02/18/honda-evster-is-the-new-honda-beat/

Honda S3000 Imagined by Deviantart Todor Kolev

Wow, great find Brad! Thanks for the tip, and great work Todor!

It’s been a while since the Honda S2000 was pulled off the market and the Japanese automotive producer still hasn’t offered us a replacement. What’s more, one can’t even find too many rumors on this topic.

If, like us, you’d like to receive some more of the S2000 taste, the only chance is to turn to the virtual world. Image manipulation is what brings us here today, as we want to show you a rendering of a proposed successor for the car.

Dubbed Honda S3000, this uses the automotive producer’s current design language and seems to have a front fascia inspired from that of the Honda CR-Z. The color scheme used here creates a strong contrast that draws extra atention to the car, but we’d like this in any shade.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-s3000-imagined-54626.html 

New Honda Beat: Next-Generation Kei Roadster Speculated

Remember the original Beat, Honda's pint-sized, two-seater roadster with the mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout of the 1990s? Well, Japan's Best Car magazine is doing what it does best by speculating on the return of the Beat in Honda's car range.

Our knowledge of the Japanese language is non-existent so we can't share any details from the article (any help would be hugely appreciated) but we assume from the side air-vents that the design proposal is for a rear-engined roadster - something like the poor man's Porsche.

We don't know if the rendering / story is based on actual inside information or pure speculation, but it would be interesting to hear your say about whether or not a model like this could be successful in markets outside Japan in today's world of downsizing and greener cars.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-honda-beat-next-generation-kei.html