 About the Honda S2000The S2000 is a sexy roadster designed by Honda to mark its 50th anniversary and also the change of the millennium. The 2000 designation also represented the car's 2.0-liter engine. The base model was reminiscent of rear-wheel drive European sports cars and continued Honda's own tradition of the S500, S600 and S800 produced for the Japanese domestic market in the 1960s. This car just looked bad to the bone even when parked at the curb, transmission out of gear, and with the engine silent.Designed by Shigeru Uehara, the S2000 sported that burly-for-a-Honda 2.0-liter, double-overhead cam, inline four-cylinder, 16-valve VTEC engine capable of putting out 237 horsepower and 153 foot pounds of torque. With a six-speed manual transmission and an 11:1 compression ratio, the S2000's... View more amazing performance made it the darling of speed-freak automotive fans. Despite the powerful beast lurking under its hood, the S2000 turned in respectable gas mileage numbers: 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the road. The concept car with the S2000 DNA appeared in 1995. After several teases, Honda released a production model in 1999 and continued it through generations until 2009. Its highest production figures were in 2000 when more than 15,000 units were sold. However, it's popularity and desirability continued a downward trend afterward. With the depressed state of the global economy in 2009, the plug was pulled. In its final year, 2,648 units were sold with an additional 168 sold in 2010 to clear out remaining inventory. While the cloth-lined vinyl ragtop was standard, an optional aluminum hardtop was available. There were minor changes through 2003. The following year saw refinements made to interior components such as an improved audio system. Changes to the suspension the same year corrected toe-in settings and eliminated some oversteering issues. The year 2008 saw two distinctive trim levels with one being targeted toward the racing segment of the population. This racing trim offered fewer amenities as well as a lower weight and a slightly larger powerplant. During the decade it was in production, the S2000 brought home more than it's share of awards and trophies. In 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004, Car and Driver included it in its Top Ten list. J.D. Powers and Associates gave it first ranking in its premium sports car class in 2004, 2006, and 2008. The engine alone made it's appearance on best of" lists from International Engine of the Year from 2000 through 2004 and Ward's Ten Best for 2000 and 2001. View less | |||
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