Honda introduced the S2000 at the turn of the last century, just over 25 years ago. It was a purpose-built convertible sports car that the automaker produced for a decade, and its return has been rumored for years, with no new car ever appearing. There are no final plans to revive this model, but it is clear that there is still a lot of love for it within the company.
according to DrivingTomoyuki Yamagami, the Prelude’s chief engineer, recently told Australian media that he would like to build another S2000 one day. It’s the car that “every Honda employee loves,” and it’s the car that… Honda Its revival would be quite unique for the automaker.
“We know what is expected from the Honda (S2000), so what is important for us is to maintain the Honda DNA,” Yamagami-san said. It won’t be a joint project, like Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ. That sounds great from an enthusiast’s perspective, but it would likely make the S2000’s successor too expensive for the average consumer.
New introductionfor example, is not cheap. Although Honda is using Civic and Civic Type R components to cut costs, the automaker has already received feedback that the car is “still too expensive,” Yamagami-san revealed. While U.S. pricing for the Prelude has not been released, many expect the hybrid coupe to cost more than $40,000. The new S2000 probably won’t be any better.
Photo by: Honda
When new, the base Honda S2000 started at $35,705 in 2009, including a $710 destination charge. That’s the equivalent of $56,709 today, according to the XXX inflation calculator, putting it in competition with the Nissan Z Heritage Edition, Mustang GT Premium, and Toyota GR Supra.
But for now, Honda engineers only have the desire to build one, without any actual intention. The S2000 entered production in 1999 with a high-revving 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 240 horsepower. There will be two versions, AP1 and AP2, with the AP2 getting a larger 2.2-litre engine.
Production will continue through 2009, with the automaker producing more than 110,000 units, with more than half of them sold in the United States. The car is still very popular today, and we would love to see it again.
