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Probably the most enduring performance car of the 21st century so far, this year will be the swansong for Honda’s revered S2000. Ladies and gentleman, could you raise your glasses please.
One of the world’s purest and most affordable performance cars is the latest victim of the global economic crisis.
Honda’s S2000 was initially intended as a celebratory, limited-edition model when released in 1999 to coincide with the company’s 50th anniversary. The fundamental correctness of its design, coupled to significant dynamic abilities, made it the darling of the automotive press corps.
Production has now run a decade (way beyond initial lifecycle planning), but with sales petering below 100 units in the US currently, 2009 will be the final production year. Sales of the S2000 for 2008 were down by 41.2% compared to 2007.
Last year the S2000 CR was added to the model range. Featuring a removable hard top (something on S2000 owners Christmas lists since the beginning), lowered suspension, a ridiculous rear-wing, high performance Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires and a 45kg weight saving thanks to deleted air-conditioning it's an absolute peach of a performance car.
With its second generation NSX being consigned to the company museum at a very advanced stage (it was practically production ready), the culling of S2000 leaves the Honda performance portfolio void of any rear-wheel drive bias. It's a state of affairs which will surely have Soichiro Honda turning in his grave...
Honda’s S2000 was initially intended as a celebratory, limited-edition model when released in 1999 to coincide with the company’s 50th anniversary. The fundamental correctness of its design, coupled to significant dynamic abilities, made it the darling of the automotive press corps.
Production has now run a decade (way beyond initial lifecycle planning), but with sales petering below 100 units in the US currently, 2009 will be the final production year. Sales of the S2000 for 2008 were down by 41.2% compared to 2007.
Last year the S2000 CR was added to the model range. Featuring a removable hard top (something on S2000 owners Christmas lists since the beginning), lowered suspension, a ridiculous rear-wing, high performance Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires and a 45kg weight saving thanks to deleted air-conditioning it's an absolute peach of a performance car.
With its second generation NSX being consigned to the company museum at a very advanced stage (it was practically production ready), the culling of S2000 leaves the Honda performance portfolio void of any rear-wheel drive bias. It's a state of affairs which will surely have Soichiro Honda turning in his grave...
