Honda S2000 Successor Could Take Aim At Mazda MX-5

More than one powerplant are being considered for the son of S2000.

The S2000, which had a 10-year lifespan from 1999 to 2009, was a front-mid engined, rear-wheel drive roadster with a VTEC engine that famously revved till 9,000 rpm. It’s unclear exactly where Autocar got its source, but there has been buzz around a sub-NSX sports auto from Honda for quite a while.

The news that the S2000 is set to return has been revealed by Autocar magazine and follows reports that Honda’s advanced engineers recently attended British S2000 owners’ club events to gather feedback for the new vehicle. The Mazda MX-5 comes with a 2-liter 155hp engine in the US. The model in question is the Honda S2000; but fear not as there are a few rumors to suggest that it is in development.

Details are limited and everything is conjecture at this point, but it’s clear that Honda has no shortage of engine choices for its yet-to-be-confirmed next generation roadster.

Customers looking for superior performance might be able to purchase a Type R variant that will be powered by a 2.0 liter 306bhp power plant, a six speed manual transmission is said to be on the card for both models.

Patent filings for a smaller, mid-engine NSX sports vehicle were rumored to show off the next S2000, but this report refutes that, saying that Mazda still plans to build its baby NSX, but for now the S2000 is top priority. While it isn’t confirmed just what will power the new S2000, it is claimed that it could utilise Honda’s upcoming 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder delivering around 180 hp.

“Honda’s USA executive VP, John Mendel, told Edmunds in a recent interview that the company wants “…some spice in the lineup”.