Honda S2000

Manufacturer	Honda
Production	1999-2009
Designer	Shigeru Uehara + Daisuke Sawai
Type	Roadster + sports car
Layout	Front-mid engine, real-wheel drive
Transmission	6-speed manual
Engine	2,0L F20C + 2,2L F22C
Enginer power	177kW / 241PS
Curb weight	1260kg-1299kg
Wheelbase	2.400mm
Length	4.120mm
Width	1.750mm
Height	1.285mm

The Honda S2000 is a roadster and sports car that was developed and manufactured by Honda to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary.
Shigeru Uehara was the chief designer and project leader. He was also responsible for the design of the Honda NSX.
It was producded between 1999 and 2009 with some minor revisions/improvements on the car during that time period. Manufacturing first started in Tochigi and later moved over to Suzuka.
Up until this day the car which was first launched in 1999 still holds several records and keeps enthuasiasts smiling whenever they see or drive one.
The Honda S2000 is known for it's naturally aspirated high reving engine, timeless but sporty design and it's 6 speed manual transmission which was praised by many critics, journalists and test drivers as the best manual transmission in any car.

Concept and development

The design study and concept car for the Honda S2000 was the Honda SSM (Sporty Study Model) which was presented for the first time during the 31th Tokyo Motor show on thr 18th October 1995.
The SSM shared many similiarities with the Honda S800, Honda NSX and later with the Honda S2000 including:

• Self-carrying rigid high x-bone frame
• Aluminium body panels
• 50:50 weight distribution
• 2.0L front-mid engine
• Rear-wheel drive
• Roadster
• A cockpit that was built "around the driver"

The S2000 was named after its engine size of two liters and there for carries on the tradition of the S500, S600 and S800.
Since the S2000 was also meant to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Honda it had to undergo a very detailed and thouroughly contrusction effort.
The whole building process of each S2000 was done in one speicific production site which was used exclusivel for the models NSX, S2000 and Insight.
Each engine was built by hand with countless parts being polished and adjusted by hand as well. A stamped number on every engine lets your backtrack which meachanic/person built this specific engine.

Several technologies and a lot of knowledge from the Honda Formula 1 engines such as piston speeds of 23,2m/s and molybdenum disulfide coating on the pistons made it's way into to the S2000 engine.
This ensured that the 9.000rpm high reving engine with its high power output was still reliable and robust while also being classifed as ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle).
While the S2000 should be driven with "Super Plus" (98 ROZ) a test of the car magazin "Auto Motor und Sport" revealed that even with "Super" (95 ROZ) or "Normal" (92 ROZ) the engines performance was nearly identical.

Thanks to the self-carrying rigid high x-bone frame the body of the S2000 is very stiff eventhough it is a roadster.
This made it a very popular car in long-distance racing where it mangaged to win a lot of titles and also placed 10th 24h Nürburgring overall standings.

Reviews, awards and records

The Honda S2000 is known for its belanced handling, smooth gearbox, high reving engine and the high output of the naturally aspirated engine.
Up to this day the car which was built in 1999 still holds the following records:

• Highest output per liter on any naturally aspirated engine
• Highest reving engine on any stock and street legal consumer car
• It is engine is the only engine that has managed to win the "Internation Engine of the Year" awards 5 times

Car and Driver's Top 10	2000 + 2001 + 2002 + 2004
#1 in BBC Top Gear survey	2003 + 2005 + 2006
International Engine of the Year	Best engine in 2000 + 2001 + 2002 + 2003 + 2004
Ward's Top 10 Best engines	2000 + 2001
J. D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study	Highest ranked premium sports car in 2004 + 2006 + 2008
U.S. News & World Report	Best affordable sports car in 2008 + 2009
Edmunds consumers most wanted vehicles	2004 + 2005 + 2007
Jalopnik	Best 10 cars of the decade
Roads & Tracks	One of the best all-round sports cars