Honda S2000 History, Overview, and Builds
In the late 1990s, Honda was gearing up to celebrate its 50th anniversary as a company. To mark the occasion, they released a sleek and sporty roadster called the Honda S2000. The car’s name is a nod to its impressive engine displacement of 2 liters – a first for any Honda production car at the time.
One of the main focuses during the S2000 design process was weight reduction. To achieve this goal, Honda utilized an all-aluminum body and steel chassis. Additionally, the high-revving inline four-cylinder engine packs quite a punch with 240 horsepower.
The S2000 quickly became a fan favorite and earned numerous accolades over its decade-long production run. Most notably, it was named Japanese Car of the Year in 1999 and Roadster of the Year by Road & Track magazine in both 2000 and 2005.
Overall, the S2000 remains an iconic vehicle that perfectly embodies Honda’s commitment to innovation and performance.
Overview of S2000
The Honda S2000 is a two-seat roadster that was manufactured by Honda from 1999 to 2009. The roadster was introduced to celebrate Honda’s 50th anniversary.
It is named after its engine displacement of 2 liters, making it the first production Honda car to have an engine with more than 2000cc.
The S2000 was designed with a focus on weight reduction. The body of the car is all aluminum, and the chassis is made from steel. The engine is a high-revving inline four-cylinder that makes 240 horsepower.
The S2000 has won numerous awards over the years, including being named the Japanese Car of the Year in 1999 and the Roadster of the Year by Road & Track magazine in 2000 and 2005.
History of the Honda S2000
The original concept for the Honda S2000 was conceived by engineer Shigeru Uehara in 1995.
He wanted to create a car that would be lightweight and agile while still delivering excellent performance. Uehara also wanted to pay homage to Honda’s racing heritage by creating a car that would be suitable for road use.
To achieve this goal, he designed a 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing 240 horsepower and 152 lb-ft of torque equipped with an optional six-speed manual transmission.
The combination of this powerful engine and lightweight chassis made the S2000 a formidable competitor on the track as well as an enjoyable daily driver on the street.
Design of the Honda S2000
The design of the Honda S2000 was inspired by classic sports cars from Japan’s Golden Age of racing, such as the Mazda Miata and Toyota Celica.
Its exterior featured sleek curves, aggressive fender flares, and prominent air scoops, along with 16-inch alloy wheels fitted with low-profile tires for improved grip during hard cornering.
Inside, there was seating for two passengers along with basic amenities such as air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, cruise control, a keyless entry system, and adjustable front seatbacks for added comfort when driving long distances.
Performance Features
The Honda S2000 was powered by a 2.0-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine which produced 240 hp (179 kW) at 8300 rpm and 153 lb-ft (207 N⋅m) of torque at 7500 rpm when paired to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
This gave it enough power to reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in 5 seconds flat while able to attain a maximum speed of 150 mph (241 km/h).
In addition to its impressive power output, it also featured independent double wishbone suspension all around, along with vented disc brakes on all four corners giving it superb agility even during hard cornering maneuvers as well as reliable stopping power when needed most.
4 Customized Builds of Honda S2000
When it comes to modifying and customizing a Honda S2000, there are endless possibilities. But when it comes to doing it right, there are only a handful of people who have truly mastered the art.
In this section, we’ll take a look at 4 customized Honda S2000 builds.
Spoon Sports S2000
This build was created by the famous Japanese tuning company Spoon Sports. It features a wide body kit, adjustable suspension, beefier brakes, and a more powerful engine tune.
Mugen S2000
Another famous Japanese tuning company, Mugen, created this build which includes a number of cosmetic and performance upgrades.
These include a new front bumper, side skirts, rear bumper, spoiler, and wheels. The suspension and brakes are also upgraded on this build.
Amuse S2000 GT1 Turbo
This build comes from Amuse, another well-known Japanese tuning company. It features a turbocharged engine that makes over 600 horsepower.
The body has been completely redesigned with wider fenders, new bumpers, and side skirts. The suspension and brakes have also been upgraded to handle the extra power from the engine.
Zero Sports S3000
This final build comes from Zero Sports out of Japan. It features an aggressive wide-body kit as well as an upgraded turbocharged engine that makes over 700 horsepower.
The suspension and brakes have also been upgraded to handle this much power.
Conclusion
The Honda S2000 is undoubtedly one of the most iconic vehicles ever created by its manufacturer due to its lightweight construction combined with superior performance capabilities making it truly unique among its competitors, both past and present-day alike.
Its interior and exterior styling are both modern and stylish, making it a great choice for those who want something sporty yet luxurious. The Honda S2000 offers an unforgettable driving experience with its high-powered engine and smooth ride quality.
It’s the perfect combination of power and sophistication that makes it one of the most desirable sports cars on the market today.
Whether you are looking for something sporty yet practical or just want to experience what true automotive engineering excellence feels like, then you won’t regret adding one of these timeless classics to your collection, no matter which variant you choose.
Moreover, you can also customize your own S2000 like the companies did, as we mentioned in this article.
