Next generation S2000 – Look out, MX5!

[Alpine]

Next generation S2000 – Look out, MX5!
Classic form: S2000 successor will be front-engined and rear-wheel drive like the current model (pictured), but will be smaller.

Honda sportscars live as it prepares a cheaper rear-drive roadster and CRX for 2009

By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS 14 March 2007
FAR from abandoning its sports car roots, Honda is reportedly working on a radical successor to the nine-year old S2000 convertible.

Next year Honda is 60 years old, and speculation in Japan is rife that the company is preparing a 1960s S600-style convertible to challenge Mazda’s perennial MX-5.

To be built on a modular front-engine and rear-wheel drive platform that may also be utilised in heavily modified form for the next-generation, front-engined, V10-powered, AWD NSX supercar, the S2000 II will be a lighter and considerably less expensive car to build than the current model.

The two-seater roadster body will be under four metres in length, and will sit on a 2400mm wheelbase, making it slightly smaller than today’s S2000. It will feature a retractable hard-top rather than a soft-top, while motivation will come courtesy of a 2.0-litre engine.

Left: S600.

A development of a new family of four-cylinder powerplants, this i-VTEC-equipped aluminium engine is said to deliver up to 160kW of power. Reports suggest it will be mated to Honda’s new i-Shift clutchless six-speed automated gearbox that currently sees service in the new Civic Type R hatchback out of Europe.

Do not be surprised if a concept car matching this description is displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show in October.

[jeffske]

OH SHEEEEET!!
man cannot wait to see what their designers come up with, I may have to hold off on getting an S2K....and this new one will be cheaper

[amato2]

check out this link, it has some concpt pics from a jap mag...

i like the last one the convertible and the red one just on top of that

http://forum.fastdrive.org/showthread.php?p=5994

[industrie]

would be pretty impressive

[panda[cRx]]

source of original post?

[EK4R]

mated to Honda’s new i-Shift clutchless six-speed automated gearbox that currently sees service in the new Civic Type R hatchback out of Europe.

whats that? kinda like DSG ?

i didnt know the CTR in UK uses this?

[Tofu]

^ that's new to me too...
never heard of iShift

it's now "i" everything these days isn't it...LOL

[crx51]

where's the info on the 09' crx, its not even mentioned at all after the subtitle?

[Spicey]

FAR from abandoning its sports car roots...

I like the sound of that!

I was getting worried for awhile!

[s2o0o]

Cheaper to manufacture? I bet that's because they will be assembled in Thailand. I'd rather mine hand-assembled in Japan :P

I love the look of the AP2. That's the only upgrade the S2000 needed to be perfect! I cringe at the thought of any body changes

The convertable hardtop will look ugly. Welcome S2000 Tigra



I have searched S2KI for this, yet nothing. Where did the article come from?

[EuroDude]

whats that? kinda like DSG ?

i didnt know the CTR in UK uses this?

I-Shift is basically a manual transmission but with a computer controlled dual-clutch ftw

[yfin]

Hi Alpine - thanks for this. Please edit your post to include the source of this information.