More Rendered Speculation on Honda S2000's High Performance Hybrid Coupe Successor

Truth to be said, we've lost track of the number of inside stories and rendered scoops concerning Honda's rumored, but never officially confirmed, S2000 successor that have made their way on the internet from various Japanese magazines the past year or so.

We've no idea if Best Car's latest story on a high-performance hybrid sports coupe that would essentially replace the S2000 is based on facts or fiction, but the Japanese magazine is once again claiming that Honda is working on what could be best described as the CR-Z's big brother.

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From Concept to Reality: Honda S2000 Roadster

Japanese manufacturers, residents of the BLAND unit in the trauma ward that is the modern auto industry (for the most part), put out some huge and extremely popular sports cars in the 90's.

Toyota had the twin-turbo Supra; Mitsubishi had the 3000GT VR-4; Mazda had the twin-turbo RX-7 and Nissan had the twin-turbo 300ZX and Skyline GT-Rs. And Honda? Well, they tried to pick a fight with Ferrari with their naturally-aspirated V6-powered NSX, but as for the common man? That's where the SSM concept stepped in, foreshadowing the S2000 roadster.

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Honda S2000-Powered 1977 Toyota Celica GT Coupe

If you opened the hood of a 1977 Celica GT, you'd normally find a Toyota four-banger, but not on this one. This first-generation Celica packs a modern-day Honda S2000 engine complete with a 6-speed gearbox. The seller of the vehicle claims that the high-revving S2000 engine has been upgraded and now develops around 268-horsepower which should be more than enough output for such a lightweight coupe.

The owner of the car took the build a step further adding a Honda S2000 digital instrument panel, a pair of 2005 Celica GT sports seats and a four-point roll cage, just to mention a few of the mods.

If you're interested, the 1977 Celica GT with the Honda heart is up for sale over at Hemmings for a "negotiable $18,000".

Link: Hemmings - Kudos to Greg for the tip!

Honda S2000 Coupe Independent Concept Study Looks the Part

Not many of you were excited with the prospect of an all-wheel drive, 2+2 hybrid coupe replacement for the Honda S2000 as are the rumors currently circulating in Japan. Then how about an evolution of today's S2000 roadster with a fixed hardtop and some serious styling changes that include a Nissan GT-R-like snout, a rounded but, concave body surfacing and a pair of xtra large side air-vents? Pretty cool, wouldn't you agree? The artist responsible for creating these computer generated images of the S2000 Coupe Concept is actually the same person that crafted the alluring Subaru Impreza WRX STI three-door study that we showed you earlier today and who goes by the alias 'Grid'. Hit the jump to view the complete gallery.

Source: 3dluvr/Grid

Honda S2000 Successor Rumored to Get AWD and Hybrid Powertrain

Earlier this year, Honda announced that the S2000 Roadster's decade-long production run will come to an end this year, leaving the company without a proper sports car. However, in addition to the launch of the production version of the front-wheel drive CR-Z hybrid small coupe in 2010, Japan's Best Car is now reporting that Honda is also working on a larger and more powerful coupe that would essentially act as a replacement to the S2000. The magazine claims that the 2+2 coupe would ditch the S2000's rear-wheel drive layout for the firm's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system (SH-AWD).

Furthermore, it is said in the report that the sports coupe will benefit from a hybrid system similar to the ones used on Honda's Insight and Civic IMA hybrid cars. No word on if the S2000 replacement would use a high-rev 4-cylinder or go for a larger displacement V6 petrol engine.

Officially, Honda has given the green light to the CR-Z hybrid sports car while the Japanese firm announced the cancelation of its V10-powered NSX successor at the end of 2008 due to the economic crisis. Honda has made no announcement whatsoever on a S2000 replacement.

So what do we think about Best Car's report? It isn't the first time we've been hearing rumours about a Honda sports car of this type, and it sure ain't the last. A high-performance 2+2 Hybrid Coupe with AWD does sound interesting and more vitally, feasible, but for the time being we'll keep this story in the grapevine.

Via: Best Car

Video: Smoking Hot 701-WHP Turbocharged Honda S2000

Honda's S2000 may be reaching the end of its life this year, but we're pretty sure that the rev-happy roadster will continue to draw our attention in the future with proposals such as this modified version that cranks out a jaw-dropping 701 wheel-horsepower. Built by T1 Race Development, the S2000's stock 4-cylinder engine benefits from a Borg Warner S372R turbocharger, a T1 race manifold and 1,000 cc Bosch Injectors. As you can see, T1 also rerouted the exhaust pipes to the side of the S2000.

In this video that ends in with a humoristic notice from the behalf of its creators, the Honda-licious S2000 Roadster smokes about anything that it meets on the road, including a Suzuki GSXR 1000 sportsbike - though it does seem that the latter kinda let off in the end.

Via: Diariomotor

Geneva Preview: New Honda S2000 "Ultimate Edition"

Marking the end of an era for the S2000, Honda today announced that it will reveal the last version of its rear-wheel drive roadster at the forthcoming Geneva Motorshow before global production of the model ceases altogether at the end of June 2009. Set to go on sale in Europe from March, the limited production S2000 "Ultimate Edition" retains the Euro-spec, 240HP 2.0-liter 9,000 rpm VTEC engine.

What makes this limited production model special in the eyes of Honda is the Grand Prix White body that supposedly evokes the color first used on the firm's 1964 F1 car and is combined with graphite alloy wheels.

Furthermore, the Ultimate Edition features unique black S2000 badging while inside, the white exterior is matched with a red leather interior and complimented by unique red colouring for stitching on the gear lever gaiter. As a limited production model, the Ultimate Editions will be marked out by unique numbered plaques on the kickplates, denoting their position in the series.

Honda to end S2000 Production in 2009, No Replacement Planned

Production of Honda's rev-happy S2000 will come to an end this year after being in the market for a decade. The rear-wheel drive roadster was first introduced in 1999 as a limited-edition tribute to Honda's 50th anniversary, however customer response 'forced' Honda to alter its plans and extend production. Available in 64 countries around the world, the S2000 sold over 110,000 since its introduction in 1999, with over 65,000 sold in the United States alone. Honda does not have any plans to replace the S2000 roadster in the near future.

"The S2000 is a sports car designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "It raised the bar for all future roadsters, and it's already considered a classic by many Honda fans."

Honda to Present S2000 and Fit / Jazz Modulo Concepts at 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon

Two new concept cars will be the main attraction at Honda's booth at this weekend's Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 that will be held from Friday, January 9, to Sunday, January 11, 2009, at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. The S2000 and Fit (called Jazz in Europe and other markets) concepts have both been developed by Honda's in-house customization brand, Modulo. The Japanese firm has not released any specific details on the two cars other than that the Sports Modulo S2000 Concept combines 'superior performance' with a 'premium interior finish' and that the Sports Modulo Fit Concept is a compact and practical, yet sporty automobile.

From the official press shots, we see that the S2000 Modulo Concept gains a wider front bumper and a new grille adorned with LED lights, side sills and multispoke alloy wheels. Inside, Modulo has uprated the S2000's cabin with new leather seats and carbon fiber trim.

As for the Sports Modulo Fit Concept, it too features a sportier front bumper with LED lights, side sills and dark alloy wheels. The Fit's two-tone interior has been extensively modified with the addition of bucket seats, an alcantara sport steering wheel, carbon-fiber trim finished in orange and extra gauges around the instrument panel.