Today we think: Honda S2000 As one of the Japanese automaker’s most respected sports cars. The compact two-door boasted both agility, power, and excellent handling, making it an instant classic in the automotive world. The naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four in particular seemed able to keep revving as long as I could keep my right foot in the corner.

However, that groaning four-cylinder engine almost never made it to the production line. when honda The cover of a new concept model was revealed at the 1995 Tokyo Auto Show, and the car in front of the crowd boasted five in-line rows. Fortunately, the right decision was made. But here’s a look at the interesting backstory of the best compact roadster on sale today.

Honda’s SSM Show Wonders: The Birth of the S2000

Important facts to know about Honda S2000

• Designed by Daisuke Sawai

• Produced from 1999 to 2009

• Sales exceeded 110,000 units

• 2004, 2006, 2008 JD Power & Associates Vehicle Reliability Survey Top model in the “Premium Sports Car” class

The mid-1990s was a heady time in automotive history. With Y2K (2000) on everyone’s lips, manufacturers anticipated the turn of the century and focused on fun-to-drive cars that reflected the overall energy and brilliance of the era. Mercedes and BMW are SLK and Z3respectively in 1995 and Audi (TT1999) and Porsche (boxster1996) soon followed in their footsteps. Performance coupes and roadsters soon became a new popular segment in the automotive industry, lasting for about two decades before their market popularity waned.

In Japan in the early 1990s, Honda was secretly working on its own open-top roadster project. The sophisticated roadster was created with the help of Italian design giant Pininfarina. It was very similar to the later production version we know as the S2000, but with some distinct differences. First up is the long, flashy hood. The headlights, placed low in the nose, also stood out, as did the fairly flat glass on the sides with minimal accent lines and the huge diffuser at the rear.

But what was more interesting was the interior. The SSM (Sports Study Model), which debuted at the 1995 Tokyo Auto Show, featured two separate pods for the driver and passenger. They had a large hoop behind their heads, a digital binnacle in front of the driver, and a gear shifter high up on the left. Did I mention the concept car didn’t have a roof, fabric, etc.?

Inline 5 for show car

But perhaps what was most intriguing to showgoers at the time was that this sleek roadster was powered by a 2.0-liter engine. inline-5. This was a fairly new idea: the naturally aspirated engine redlined at a high 8,000 rpm. Another thing to note is that the SSM is designed with a steel monocoque, with dual cockpits lined with composite panels to reduce weight.

This concept borrowed quite a few items from something bigger. NSX A sports car from the same era. like double wishbone suspensionfront and rear, made of lightweight aluminum. We also received the NSX’s F-Matic four-speed autobox, but with an extra cog.

Nowadays, automatic gearboxes are not something to be frowned upon as they offer quick and precise changes. But in the 1990s, when torque converters were becoming less powerful, this was anathema to the sports car world. But Honda added a novelty to the box behind the steering wheel in the form of a lever, which you can pull to manually raise or lower the gears.

All in all, the 1995 SSM concept car was already great. It had a compact but interesting 2.0-liter inline five-cylinder rear-wheel drive and perfect 50:50 weight distribution. The car world couldn’t wait for the real thing.

S2000: Honda’s Y2K sports car

We had to wait until 1999 for Honda’s new front mid-engine sports car. The cleverly named S2000, which referred to its 2,0-liter engine size as 2000, quickly became a crowd favorite and made an impact. Honda designer Daisuke Sawai (the same guy who developed the SSM) breathed more life into the concept’s flat sides and quirky nose. The S2000 loses the large diffuser, moves the headlights higher, and does away with the hoop. A soft top was also adopted. And yes, the pods have been ditched for the regular interior, but the curved dashboard still focuses on the driver.

But the most important changes occurred internally. The odd five-cylinders were swapped out for more conventional inline four-cylinders. The red line is also higher, reaching 9,000 rpm. The NSX’s autobox was ditched in favor of a 6-speed manual. Fortunately, the front and rear double wishbone suspension setup remained in the concept model.

Thanks to the 2.0-liter’s high redline, the 237-horsepower two-seater produced an impressive power-to-engine size ratio (119 horsepower per liter) among production naturally aspirated cars of the time. Features include independent double wishbone suspension, electrically assisted steering, and an integrated roll hoop.

S2000 has won numerous awards

The performance was sublime. This lightweight sports car (weighing 2,809 pounds) flew out of corners with no resistance, and the engine screamed all the way to its high redline. Gear shifts were quick and smooth, and handling was balanced and stable. It’s no wonder the S2000 garnered praise and several magazines ranked it as the best sports car of its time. In 2001, it also won the Red Dot Design Award in the “Best of the Best” category.

Other compact sports cars to consider

Porsche Boxster (986)

Nearly 30 years old, the original Porsche Boxster still looks fresh and sporty with its timeless design. The air inlets in front of the rear wheels were a novel touch, as were the egg headlights with bright orange indicators at each corner of the nose. As an entry model, a 2.7-liter flat-six would have been sufficient, but what I really want is the 3.2-liter flat-six of the Boxster S. The growl of the boxer engine was enough to make the smallest Porsche stand out, and the performance and roadholding were exceptional. Furthermore, Boxster will go down in history as it was the one that saved Porsche from slumping sales in the mid-1990s. The rest, as they say, was history.

BMW Z4

The previous generation Z3 (1995) was a model that ran in a new segment of compact, affordable sports cars. However, in addition to handling and build quality, the model you should aim for dynamically is Z4’s Next Generation (). Starting in 2003, the car was designed by now-infamous car designer Chris Bangle. Known for his penchant for “flame” designs, the Z4 actually worked very well (visually) when viewed in low light as sun and shadow played with the sculpted surfaces of his designs. The 2.5-liter model was the chosen model, offering a sporty performance, handling, and price point.

Audi TT RS

Audi unveiled its new TT concept car to the world at the 1995 Frankfurt Auto Show, surprising the automotive world with a classic Bauhaus-style design that offered a unique challenge to the new sports car segment. When the production version was unveiled in 1999, much of the concept’s striking convex lines, particularly the roof, nose and tail, and wheel arches, were retained. It was an unusual but impressive design. However, the car itself was very much built to the numbers. It is built on the Volkswagen Group’s small platform, which is shared with the Golf and A3, and uses the same 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder turbo powering the front wheels. I had to wait for the next generation (2006) specialist model, Lacy. TTRSto really enjoy. The TT RS made a huge impact on the sports car scene, using a new turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine to power all four wheels.

Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

As with the TT RS, we had to wait until the second generation (2003) of Mercedes’ roadster SLK family to find a true sports car in the lineup. SLK55AMG. The first generation (1995) had a hot AMG version, but this only used a 3.2-liter V6. When the second generation was introduced, AMG put a big 5.4-liter V8 in the nose to maximize performance and engine sound. The SLK has always been ridiculed as a hairdresser’s car, but later AMG models were truly bulldogs.

conclusion

The S2000 is one of Honda’s most beloved sports cars in existence, so few people would know that it had a near-in-line five-row under its nose and a low redline. This would have changed the character of the car as we know it today. Fortunately, the right decision was made in the boardroom, and the S2000 arrived on the scene with all the distinctive features that we appreciate so much today. Isn’t that what the automotive industry needs today: a special sports car with its own personality?

source: honda, audi, BMW, porsche