The Honda S2000 has long been regarded as one of the best sports cars in its class. The rear-wheel drive, mid-engined roadster set the motoring world ablaze in 1999 with its game changing engine. The 2.0 litre 237 bhp engine, found in the original S2000, loved being revved to the max – with its performance sweet spot above the 8000 rpm mark.
The car rose to fame among driving and tuning enthusiasts after its numerous appearances on the world famous film series, ‘The Fast and The Furious’. Drivers were sad to see it go in 2009, when the last S2000 rolled off the production line. Honda made the decision to end production during the automotive industry economic crash in 2008, due to declining sales of the once popular roadster.
However, recent news has broken of an S2000 rebirth – according to multiple news sources, information has been leaked from Honda insiders. Honda are keen to rebrand themselves as a performance manufacturer, veering away from their current, fairly beige product offering. Their current line-up, although solid and reliable, consists mainly of mildly entertaining hatchbacks. Honda have planned to re-launch the S2000 as a mid-range sports car between the eagerly anticipated upcoming S660 sports car and the ferocious NSX supercar (pictured below), all of which are mid-engined.
If the S2000 becomes a reality, Honda insiders have indicated it will use the upgraded 2.0 litre, turbocharged engine found in the upcoming Civic Type-R – producing 350 bhp, more than 100 bhp more than the original S2000. The upcoming NSX supercar will feature hybrid technology – this is in response to emissions and economy crackdowns potentially spelling the end for performance cars. The innovative technology vastly improves economy without compromising on performance. It’s unknown whether or not this technology could be incorporated into the S2000 in addition to the 2.0 litre engine.
If the new S2000 gets the go-ahead from Honda directors, the car could potentially be in production as early as 2017. Pricing is expected to be around the £35,000 mark, making the S2000 a highly competitive option against more expensive competitors like the Porsche Boxster. Fancy getting your hands on a Honda? Head over to our Honda finance page to find yourself a great car finance deal.
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