Farewell, Friend: Honda announces S2000 Ultimate Edition for Europe
by Damon Lavrinc on Jan 29th 2009 at 12:30PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Honda S2000 Ultimate Edition
With the announcement that the Honda S2000 will cease production after the 2009 model year and its successor in doubt, Honda decided to give the high-revving roadster a special send-off before it shuffles off this mortal coil.
The Honda S2000 Ultimate Edition retains the 2.0-liter VTEC-equipped four-cylinder putting out 237 hp and 153 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed manual transmission, but benefits from a new set of wheels and an optional hard-top. "Grand Prix White" coats the exterior, while a red leather interior, color-matched stitching and numbered doorsill plaques sets it apart from the standard model. Honda will debut the S2000 Ultimate Edition at the Geneva Motor Show this March, with sales beginning in Europe shortly thereafter. Honda hasn't announced if the U.S. will get its own version special edition S2000, but if the automaker can save a few bucks that can go towards the development of the new model, we'll be okay with missing out on the "Ultimate."
Gallery: Honda S2000 Ultimate Edition
PRESS RELEASE
Honda has announced that the Honda S2000 Ultimate Edition will go on sale from March 2009 in Europe. This limited edition has been produced to mark the end of production for the award winning sports car.
The Ultimate Edition retains its highly acclaimed 2.0 litre 9000 rpm VTEC engine and combines it with a Grand Prix White body and graphite coloured alloy wheels. The shade of the paint evokes the colour first used on Honda's 1964 F1 car and many sporting models since. The exterior colour combination with the dark metal alloy wheels and unique black S2000 badging gives a fresh look to the timeless shape of the roadster body.
The white exterior will be matched with a red leather interior and complimented by unique red colouring for stitching on the gear lever gaiter. Ultimate Editions will be marked out by their unique numbered plaques on the kickplates, denoting their position in the series.
The 2-seater sports car may now be almost 10-years old, but its 240PS 2-litre is still one of the highest output per litre and highest revving engines ever made. In recognition of its incredible power output, the Honda S2000's engine has won the International Engine of the Year category for 1.8 to 2.2 litre engines five times in its lifetime.
As the name suggests, the Honda S2000 Ultimate Edition will be the last version before global production of the model ceases altogether at the end of June 2009. Since the introduction of the Honda S2000 in 1999 until the end of 2008, Honda has sold 110,673 units worldwide - 19,987 of those in Europe.
The first viewing of the Ultimate Edition will be the 2009 Geneva International Motor Show starting with the press day on the 3rd March.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
moyoi 1:38PM (1/29/2009)
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it has had NO major performance or styling upgrades.
oldraven 12:40PM (1/29/2009)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Honda replace the 2.0L unit with a 2.2L one with the last refresh?
Reply
Ilya 12:44PM (1/29/2009)
Some markets retained the 2.0 F20C engine, since the 2.2 F22C was developed mainly for the torque-hungry American market.
AIL 1:19PM (1/29/2009)
Not true, Japan sports the 2.2L as well.
sanimalp 1:21PM (1/29/2009)
I came in to say the same thing, but looks like Europeans might not have gotten the 2.2l.. just us poor saps in the US. Long live the F20c.. you can have your torque, ill take my 9k rpm redline thanks.
AIL 1:22PM (1/29/2009)
Sorry, what I meant was "not entirely true". Drive the 2.0L and 2.2L back to back and it is pretty obvious what that extra displacement and tuning does for a car that is going to be driven on public streets at any kind of regular frequency. It really does make a big difference for livability.
Gomi 12:42PM (1/29/2009)
This car still looks great imo. I can't believe it's already a 10 year old design.
Reply
Sea Urchin 12:48PM (1/29/2009)
It does look great, and inside its so small, you REALLY get the feel for the road.
I never drove it, but sat in it a few times. It is very low, almost like Miata.
geo.stewart 1:55PM (1/29/2009)
yes well the red leather interior will doom it all to heck. try selling that in 10+ yrs. look at all the mustangs with a hot red interior, you cant sell em with superbowl tix
chilicoke 2:38AM (1/31/2009)
geo.stewart,
Actually, white S2000 with red interior go for a premium in the used market today after 10 years since the car was first introduced. Doubt that will change in the future either, as white/red is Honda's signature color combo (Type R cars) and is one of the rarest color. Same with white NSXs.
chopsu3i 12:46PM (1/29/2009)
grand prix white/red leather is soooo nice. probably one of the most sought after color combinations for the s2000. a small part of me hopes the economy will still be in a rut in the next 6 months so i can grab one of these dirt cheap :)
Reply
atlanta_pete 12:50PM (1/29/2009)
What a legacy this car has had....and fitting to see the most beautiful color combination to come out that pays homage to its roots and its simplicity. I have never owned one, but with the recent CR version, I just did not like the added on body cladding...this is like the farewell song for such a unique car.
Reply
Franz 12:51PM (1/29/2009)
Absolutely love this car, especially in white.
Reply
JF 12:52PM (1/29/2009)
I'd love to have an optional removable hard top on the regular S2k, not just the CR model. Soft tops just look cheap/flimsy to me, and there are times when you'll want the top up.
Reply
tunafish 1:03PM (1/29/2009)
You can... the standard hardtop can be had for a couple grand. You just put down the soft top, put on the hardtop, and go. Many s2000 owners who are not CR owners run with a hard top during the cold season, and for track days. You can remove the softop in your normal non-CR s2000 pretty easily as well if you never plan on using it.
John Johnson 12:56PM (1/29/2009)
My favorite driving car.
I'd love to have seen them put a supercharger on it. Might as well go out with a bang, eh?
A hard top and wheels do not make an Ultimate edition :/
Reply
aii 1:18PM (1/29/2009)
Actually, the more serious S2000 trackerdrivers with superchargers always seem to end up taking them off. Sure it is great for drag, but if you want drag you should be starting with a different platform to begin with.
Trent 1:50PM (1/29/2009)
unfortunantly, much of any power upgrades requires an overhaul of the transmission. Supposedly the clutch starts to slip at power figures north of ~220 lb ft. So guess a new clutch, at least. With all the proper modifications done though, it can really be a missile.
Pat 1:37PM (1/29/2009)
As far as I can tell, the black badges and the wheels are identical to the USDM S2000 CR's. The shift knob looks identical to the Civic Type-r (which is the same as the CR knob, but with red instead of yellow numbering). The hardtop, as far as I know, has always been a factory option in UK (dealer option in the US). And the 2.0L engine is still the only available engine in Europe.
And Grand Prix White is not the same as Championship white.
Reply
Stumpy 1:07PM (1/29/2009)
I am SOOO in the Market for a Used S2000. I have test drove about 4 of them. So nice, nothing like it out there right now. Unfortunately, living in Chicago, having an S2000 as my only car is not that practical (though I am sure there are a few people out there who do it). Just get some beefy snow tires and keep your fingers crossed.
Reply