Autoblog

The Honda S2000 has been on the US market since 1999, and although it's long in the tooth, the rev-happy two-seater still brings joy to drivers with its well-balanced RWD goodness. We're looking forward to an all-new S2000, and according to a few Japanese magazines, we can expect to see the S2K's replacement in 2010. One mag commissioned the above rendering, which incorporates clean, angular lines, similar to those found on recent concepts from Honda and Acura. The topless rendering also exhibits an improved rendition of the aesthetically questionable Honda grille, along with some US-centric chrome rims.

The next generation S2000 is rumored to be powered by a choice of four- or six-cylinder engines, with the four still packing 2.4 liters, but producing around 250 hp, and the a larger 3.5-liter unit putting out around 350 ponies. While a modestly enhanced 2.4 makes sense as the base engine, we're unsure if a larger, heavier V6 is a good call for a vehicle that prides itself on its 50/50 weight distribution and 8,300 rpm redline. Adding a turbocharger would help to keep weight issues at bay, while still providing the added pop enthusiasts crave.

[Source: Carscoop]

While filming the latest installment of everyone's favorite overly dramatized street racing flick, Vin Diesel extended his rage from a character in the movie onto the right front bumper of an S2000. The Honda, owned by Ben from Bespoke Ventures and being used as an automotive extra in The Fast and Furious 4, sustained a fair amount of damage to the bumper, right fender and headlamp. There's no word on when Universal is going to be settling its tab for the damages done by Mr. D, but Ben has already got a "Vin Diesel Broke My Car" t-shirt for sale, which should ease the financial burden. That, along with the "Don't tune your GT-R" tee, should complete your summer fashion collection.

[Source: TheRealJDM]

Honda's S2000 roadster has legions of fans who are very happy with its balanced mix of performance and handling. Then there are those who just can't be satisfied.

One of those power-hungry S2000 owners is known as hboy7777 in both S2000 forums and LS1 forums, and he's combining both those worlds between the frame rails of a Honda.

That's good-old American General Motors LS1 iron hunkering down in that Japanese engine bay, with what hboy estimates could be much as 500 hp before the nitrous is added. In a car that weighs only 2,800 pounds, that's gonna be one handful of a Honda.

The project is still in the works, but hboy plans to start with a Nissan t56 transmission, and if it won't hold, maybe try one donated from a Viper. That should do it. You might think weight balance would be ruined by an engine swap like this, but the owner says the aluminum LS1 doesn't weigh much more than the original powerplant and some firewall mods help keep the roadster's handing neutral.

We look forward to seeing what this Japanese/American hybrid can do, and plan to check in on hboy's adventures often. You can too, either at the LS1 Tech, or at S2K International.

[Source: Carscoop]

Sometimes news is just too good to keep to yourself. Just ask GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. With his company supposedly claiming 13 spots on Edmund's Consumers' Most Wanted list, Lutz just had to brag a bit on the corporate blog before the winners were made public.

And he should brag. Most other car of the year awards are chosen by us automotive writers who usually prefer horsepower over hip room. As the name implies, Edmund's CMW awards are chosen by the car-buying public. And despite not voting with their wallets, the car-buying public who visits Edmund's really like their GMs.

The GMC Acadia got Most Significant vehicle of the year, beating out Honda's Fit, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Ford Edge and the Toyota Tundra.

Click through to see Edmund's press release as well as the other category winners.

[Source: Edmunds, GM FastLane Blog]

Honda has issued a short but very sweet press release this afternoon (check it after the jump) informing us that a "club-racer-inspired" version of the S2000 will debut at the 2007 New York Auto Show in a few weeks. Referred to as "aggressively-tuned", the CR-spec S2000 will be an available trim level on the S2000 beginning this fall. This all begs the question, how long is the S2000 for this corporeal world? Rumors still abound a replacement is being readied by Honda that may deviate sharply from the S2000's steadfast formula of being a high-strung, two-seat sports convertible. Unfortunately Honda didn't release an image, teaser pic or even rendering of the S2000 CR-spec, so just imagine this garden variety 2007 model as "aggressively-tuned".

[Source: Honda]

The Honda S2000 is one of those incredible cars that has been around for a while and which we never hesitate to recommend when somebody mentions the need for a fun ride. But the car never really appealed to a broad enough audience for Honda to work on a successor, at least officially. Winding Road is reporting that a successor is indeed being discussed, but that the plan is to bring the car into a slightly different market segment.

Although the car wouldn't reach dealerships until 2009 at the earliest, word has it the replacement would move up market a bit to compete with cars like the Mercedes SLK. We remember when the S2000 originally debuted and people wondered whether or not the car should be badged an Acura because of the high price compared to other Hondas. Will this again be the case?

WR's source says the car is yet to be approved but a few things are certain about any possible future S replacement. It should stay rear drive. It will be less raw and more refined than the S2000. And the car will look completely different, perhaps adding a back seat in the process. This already seems like heresy and we hope that Honda comes to its senses and offers another pure sports car. We know we're not alone in loving the S2000 and what it represents as a halo vehicle.

[Source: Winding Road]

Last week's autocross-themed RR of the Week was another close race (I'll take that pun, thank you); with a scant five votes separating first and second place.

It came down to two front-engine, four-pot, drop tops: the Mazda Miata, a cone-slayer if there ever was one, and the Honda S2000, with revs so high it's a wonder they fitted six speeds. As voting took place over the weekend, the S2000 maintained a substantial lead, but as Sunday drew to a close the Miata eked out the lead and in the end, took the checkered flag.



This week's theme is cars of the 80's, so if you you've got a ride from the decade of excess, directions on how to submit it to our Flickr group are posted after the jump.

Looks like the S2000’s epitaph has already been written, as Honda may be planning a replacement dubbed internally as the XGA. What the XGA will be when it comes online is anyone’s guess, though. Road and Track is reporting that at first it thought the S2000 replacement would grow a roof and an extra set of doors. This four-door sports coupe would employ Honda’s SH-AWD technology and possibly use some advanced hybrid powertrain.

Now R&T is hearing from inside Honda’s hallowed halls that the XGA will be a coupe based on the RL platform and feature either a V8 or V10, probably a detuned version of what ends up powering the next Acura NSX. Word on the forums, however, is that the XGA will be slotted between the outgoing S2000 and the NSX. Rather, this vehicle isn't meant to replace Honda's high-revving roadster.

The Sports4 Concept (shown) Honda unveiled at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show gives us the best indication of what the XGA will look like. Whether it will be four- or two-door in the end is still unknown, and whether or not it will be powerful enough to take on the likes of Nissan’s upcoming GT-R is another whole story.

[Source: Road&Track]

A new UK Driver Power survey conducted by Auto Express Magazine surveyed 46,000 car owners on their choice for the nation's automotive Heroes and Villains. Criteria included driving enjoyment, running costs, reliability, build quality, and so on.

The 'super' Hero? Honda's S2000 roadster. In fact, Honda placed three cars in the top ten, as did VW AG property Skoda and BMW. In a 'shades of Consumer Reports' finding, the British publication's survey found that 11 of the top 12 most reliable vehicles were Japanese, and 9 of 11 of the most problematic were of French and Italian descent.

The biggest villains? Peugeot's 206, Mercedes A-Class and the not-so-dearly departed Rover 25.

A summary of AE's findings and criteria can be found here, and a more comprehensive vehicle-by-vehicle ranking here.

[Sources: Auto Express, The Independent, Honda Motor Co.]