Honda S2000

Honda S2000 at a glance

The S2000 continued Honda's early S-series roadsters, the S500, S600 and S800 of the 1960s. It previewed at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show as the SSM concept, and the production car went on sale in 1999. The history of Honda puts it in the company's wider sports-car line.

The F20C and F22C1 engines

The heart of the S2000 is its engine. The F20C is a 2.0-litre twin-cam four with VTEC variable valve timing, and it reaches maximum power at 8,300 rpm. With about 124 hp per litre it held the record for the highest specific output of any naturally aspirated production car until the Ferrari 458 Italia arrived in 2010.

The 2.2-litre engine has a longer stroke. It gives the same peak power at lower revs and more torque in the middle of the range, so the car feels less dependent on high revs in daily driving. Purists still prefer the 9,000 rpm 2.0-litre, and in Europe the 2.0-litre F20C stayed in the car until the end. According to German tests, the engine made the same power on 92, 95 and 98 RON petrol.

Chassis, gearbox and handling

The S2000 uses a high X-bone frame: a stiff backbone that joins the front and rear of the body and adds rigidity without a roof. The engine sits behind the front axle, which gives a 50:50 weight distribution. Suspension is by double wishbones all round, and the electric power steering is quick.

Power reaches the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox and a Torsen limited-slip differential. Honda never offered an automatic. The Japanese Type V of July 2000 added variable-ratio steering that cut lock-to-lock turns from 2.4 to 1.4.

The early AP1 earned a reputation for snappy behaviour at the limit. Honda softened that with each update: a revised suspension and a glass rear window with a heater in 2002, then retuned springs and dampers, 17-inch wheels and Bridgestone RE050 tyres in 2004. From 2006 the car gained a drive-by-wire throttle and electronic stability control, called VSA. With about 1,320 kg and 177 kW, a German S2000 carries about 7.5 kg per kW; the power-to-weight calculator compares it with other sports cars.

AP1 vs AP2: what changed in 2004

The 2004 update is usually called the change from AP1 to AP2, although strictly AP2 is the chassis code of the 2.2-litre North American car. Cars for Europe and Australia kept the 2.0-litre engine and the AP1 code, while Japan switched to the 2.2-litre in 2006.

• Engine: 2.2-litre F22C1 in North America, with an 8,000 rpm red line instead of 9,000.
• Gearbox: shorter ratios for the first five gears and carbon-fibre synchronisers.
• Chassis: new springs, dampers and anti-roll settings for more predictable handling.
• Styling: new front and rear bumpers, LED tail lights, oval exhaust tips and 17-inch wheels.
• Cabin: the old 1cars review noted two-tone seats, speakers in the headrests and an updated audio unit.

The digital instrument panel, with a curved rev bar that lights up to 9,000 rpm, a red engine start button and the electric roof that folds in about six seconds stayed throughout.

Special editions: Type S, Club Racer and Ultimate Edition

Honda built several limited versions at the end of production. The Club Racer (US, 2008–2009) had a fixed hardtop, no spare wheel, stiffer suspension and weighed 41 kg less than the standard car; 699 were made. The Japanese Type S (2007–2009) had its own body kit, Alcantara trim and revised suspension, and 1,755 were sold. Europe received the Ultimate Edition in 2009, and the UK a run of 100 GT Edition 100 cars.

In Germany 4,550 S2000s were registered between 1999 and 2010, with the best year in 2000. About 65,000 of the roughly 110,000 cars sold by the end of 2008 went to the United States.

Safety

Euro NCAP gave the S2000 four stars in 2002. Australia's ANCAP later rated it one star overall in 2009, with 11.63 of 16 points in the offset frontal test and 15.25 of 16 in the side impact test.

Rivals: how the S2000 compares

The S2000 is the only car in this group that needs revs to give its best. Drivers who enjoy working the gearbox love it; those who want relaxed torque are better served by a six-cylinder BMW or Nissan. Other open two-seaters are listed in the 1cars convertibles section, and the S2000 can be set against any of them in the comparison tool.