A Type R-Engined Honda S2000 Is Reportedly Arriving In 2024
It’s now 11 years since the Honda S2000 went out of production. Although enthusiasts have clamoured after a successor ever since, the shaky current sports car market hasn’t left us with hope. However, against all odds, Honda is said to be making a second-generation version.
According to a report in Forbes citing “a source close to Honda,” the Japanese manufacturer’s marketing people are “seriously considering” a return for the S2000 in 2024. Huzzah!
A launch that year would coincide with both the 25th anniversary of the S2000 and a concept previewing the production car the year before could mark Honda‘s 75th birthday. For the car’s 20th anniversary, the company made a new/old S2000 concept wearing a body kit and other modernised parts, the purpose of which might have partly been to fuel interest in a second-generation model.
Building an all-new, emissions-compliant engine with a 9000rpm redline would be a tall order, of course. It should come as no surprise that the expected powerplant for this all-new S2000 will instead be the Civic Type R’s 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four. That’d being the case, it’d be the lightly electrified version coming in the next Type R.
So, we’re looking at a boosty mid-range rather than a zingy top-end, although the electrical component of the car should at least combat turbo lag.
According to the Forbes report, the proportions will be close to those of the original S2000. It would be hugely impressive if Honda can pull that off with modern crash regulations while packaging the new turbo engine. Aluminium and carbon fibre are to be used in its construction, keeping the weight under 1360kg.
This new S2000 would face stiff competition from other Japanese sports cars upon its arrival. The all-new Subaru BRZ was revealed a few weeks ago, and its Toyota GR86 will be shown to the world for the first time next year. Nissan 400Z production will be in full swing by 2024 (with Europe denied a look-in - we’re still salty about that), and the GR Supra should still be in production. Since the Civic Type R is better than every other hot hatch out there, though, we’ve full confidence in Honda building something superior to both domestic and international rivals.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
So, we’re looking at a boosty mid-range rather than a zingy top-end
If this isn’t a rumor (because let’s be honest, developing a new sports car from scratch is terrible in terms of economics), I think the turbo engine will be tuned for a zingy top end to mimic the high rpm fever of the S2000 of past.
But of course, i’ll believe all this when I see it. Honda like other auto manufacturers, is probably a bit wary of deploying billions for a small volume car when they are current emptying their piggy bank to transition their lineup to EVs
It’s not impossible to achieve that zingy top end if they played around with compressor to turbine size ratios, but I doubt they will go to all that expense for just a single low volume model. Not to mention you’d be making the turbo behave in way it isn’t designed for and operate well below it’s potential performance. There’s nothing inherently wrong about modern turbo engines - and I would be perfectly happy if Honda just made the necessary changes for the current Type R engine to work in RWD and slotted that in.
But that’s even assuming they follow through on their word and make it. 2024 is a long way off, a lot can change in that time and so many markets will be well on the way to transitioning to a predominantly electric powered automotive scene. I hope they do make it though, pair it with a manual transmission, it would be a perfect cornerstone to send off their S range.
WHAT? They are re-launching the S2K. GOD DAMN. This is one of the best news i’ve heard in a long time. Talk about timeless design.
I hope it makes hella turbo noises like the Type-R engine in the Ariel Atom 4
Whoa! Are we going through a Japanese sports car renaissance or what?
In no particular order: New NSX, new Supra, 400Z, 2nd gen of BRZ/86, new GTR (ok it’s not really a sports car any more), Yaris GR, now this upcoming S2000 successor…
I’m not complaining as it will mean plenty of cheap, fun cars in a few years once the more image driven owners move on from them, but why have so many of the Japanese manufacturers suddenly thrown a bunch of resources at making sports cars? Especially when for years they have moved away from just that and focused on whitegoods spec commuter cars, insisting there was no market for such vehicles or that the development costs made them uneconomical to build?
What new GT-R? R50? And also new NSX?
And just to add to that list, a new Skyline 400R.
All the Miata and S2000 fanboys just came in their pants