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 |
| Rev limit | 9.000rpm (F20C) + 8.200rpm (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 (Takanezawa in Tochigi, later moved to Suzuka) which was used exclusively 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 24,6m/s, molybdenum disulfide piston coating and fiber-reinforced metal cylinders 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.
AP1 (1999-2003)
The model which was built since it's introduction in 1999 until 2003 is called the AP1 and was manufactured in the Takanezawa Plant in Tochigi, Japan.
It features the F20C engine which generates 241 PS / 177kW at 208Nm / 153lb-ft with a rev limit at up to 9.000rpm. Japan featured a JDM F20C version with 250PS / 184 kW due to a higher compression ratio of 11,7:1.
The AP1 has 16" wheels which originally came with Bridgestone Potenza S-02 tyres.
It had an electrically powered vinyl soft top with internal lining and a plastic rear window. The aluminium hard top was available as an extra option (from 2001-20009).
The offered exterior colors were:
- New Formula Red
- Berlina Black
- Gran Prix White
- Sebring Silver
- Silverstone Metallic
- Spa Yellow (2001)
- Suzuka Blue (2002)
AP2 (2004-2009)
The model which was built between 2004 to 2009 is called the AP2 and was manufactured in the Suzuka Plant in Suzuka, Japan.
AP2 in Europe
AP2 in US
Technical details
Engine
The piston are forged aluminium while the engine block and head is built out of aluminium with fiber-reinforced metal sleeves. Several other parts such as the cylinders are also built out of fiber-reinforced metal.
This makes the engine very compact and lightweight and therefor made it possible to mount the front-mid engine longtiudinally and behind the front axle.
To get the most out of the compact sized engine design, Honda used two overhead cams with roller followers, a ladder-frame main brearing stiffener, a VTEC system for intake and exhaust camshaft and a timing chain.
The VTEC systems uses two seperate cam lobe profiles instead of a variable cam phasing.
The intake was designed for minimal volume to incerase the engines response.
Transmission
Specification comparison table
| Engine type | Naturally aspirated inline 4 cylinder | |
| Valvetrain | 16 valve DOHC VTEC | |
| Displacement | 1.997 cm³ | 2.157 cm³ |
| Power | ||
| Torque | ||
| Rev. limit / redline | ||
| Top speed | 240 km/h | |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h | 5,9 seconds | |
| Acceleration 0-200 km/h | 24,5 seconds | |
| Fuel consumption | 10,l L Super Plus (98 ROZ) | |
| Fuel tank size | 50 L | |
| Brore & stroke | ||
| Gear ratio | ||
| Transmission | 6 speed manual | |
| Differential | Torsen limited slip | |
| Weight | ||
| Weight distribution | 50:50 | |
| Height | ||
| Width | 1.750mm | |
| Length | ||
| Wheelbase | 2.400mm | |
| Wheels | ||
| Tires | ||
| Breaks | ||
| Suspension | In-wheel Double Wishbone |
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 engine power output of any naturally aspirated street legal production car in the world
- Highest power output per liter of any naturally aspirated engine
- Highest reving engine of any street legal production car
- Engine with the highest piston speed of any street legal production car
- The only engine that has ever managed to win the "Internation Engine of the Year Award" 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 Award | 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 |