If there's a car that made them enemies of Honda to swallow their tongue, that's the S2000(well, and the NSX, but that's not the point right now). And the... universe knows that since the Japanese company stopped production of the of this divine roadsteruntil it is replaced, it will always be missing "something". Well, Honda knows that, and it's preparing the next generation of the S2000. It will be hybrid with 300-400 horsepower and its price will be around 65.000 euros.
To TopSpeed.gr had revealed this some time ago (see links at the end of the text), when Honda patented the plans for the roadster. And now, the -self-motivated- people have it all over and the... Honda's hidden pride. Why, it refuses to confirm or deny that it is preparing the new S2000, which it lets people call... Baby NSX. For example, the British AutoExpress writes that the upcoming "baby NSX", the successor to the S2000, is expected to be unveiled to the public in 2018. The same magazine writes that it will be a hybrid roadster which will combine a 1.5 litre turbo four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, with a combined power of 300 hp. The price will be around 65,000 euros.
Rendering of the interior of the new S2000 with references to the first generation
Where there is confusion in the information is the engine. The our own sources, For example, recently, it has been reported that it will indeed be a hybrid, with two 70-horsepower electric motors each, but that it will wear the 2L engine we met in the Honda Civic Type-R and that the total power of this Honda will be in the range of 400 horsepower.
The information coming out of Honda is scant, with the rumors making the rounds of the planet and the vice president of Honda USA, John Mendel trying to confirm them without saying anything: "I can't tell you anything about the baby NSX... I could, but I would probably be fired", Mendel replied in response to a question, and when AutoGuide asked him if there was a Honda model that was space for another "hardcore" sports car, he replied: "Of course there is".
After all, if we see "in the flesh" the plan that Honda has patented and which here, the David Kiss (in rendering, first photo) tries to bring it into a "real" form for the TopSpeed.com, we will be talking about a - at least in appearance- worthy successor to the S2000. And, then, on the inside, all you need to do is to borrow elements of the NSX…
So, if Honda proceeds with the "birth" of the baby NSX aka S2000 and continues the development of the S1000 and S660 Type R for the Japanese market, with a new and improved CR-Z, along with the Civic Type-R and NSX, then we can talk about a "regeneration" in the sports car sector, for which she became so famous and from which she has so vocally distanced herself in recent years. Your turn, Honda...
We have written it before: The new S2000, according to the leaks, will have power running at around 365 horsepower. It will wear the now familiar two-litre turbo that the Civic TypeR and not only wears. From the partnership with McLaren in Formula 1, it seems that two electric motors will also be fitted to the model. This means that it will be four-wheel drive;
Don't be scared, my friend Honda. Even the stones know that the upcoming S2000 will be pure rear-wheel drive. The drive will be transmitted to the rear wheels through a seven-speed gearbox. Now, as to whether there will be a manual version, we don't take an oath. What matters to the Japanese, though, is that their new roadster "downhill" from standstill in less than 5 seconds and keep its consumption at around 7lt/100km.
This is the prototype design that, as TopSpeed had revealed, was patented by Honda
The latest information from the Land of the Rising Sun says that there is a strong possibility that the new S2000 will also be centrifugal, following the beaten path for the company. Why? Honda seems to be applying the formula of... downsizing the NSX to the S2000, for obvious reasons.
A lot of weight is given, we learn, to... weight. Honda, geared to wide use of carbon fibre and aluminium, to reduce the weight on the 1300 kilos.
See here and here more details and photos of the upcoming S2000.
Did you like our story? Don't forget to like at our Facebook page to be informed by us and to support our work! Besides, like dreams, liking is free...
