The precursor to the S2000 was a Pininfarina design with an inline-five engine and an automatic gearbox.
Name: Honda SSM (Sport Study Model)
Launched:1995 Tokyo Motor Show
Specs2.0-liter Inline-Five Engine, Rear-wheel Drive, NSX-derived Five-Speed Automatic Transmission, 50:50 Weight Distribution, 155 mph (250 kph), Top Speed
Why It Matters Now:
We thought it would be worth your time to take a closer look at the S2000, one of our most loved Honda sports cars.
Honda repeatedly denied the possibility of bringing back S2000, its open-top sports car that it sold from 1999 to 2009 and which spawned two generations. We can still dial our time machine to the mid-1990s and find the beginnings of the S2000, Honda’s first attempt at the small roadster.
The quirky styling of this two-seater was partly due to the involvement of Pininfarina The famous Italian design house designed the SSM with low-slung, long-hooded headlights. The S2000 was designed with a fabric roof as well as a hardtop. However, the showcar was created as a pure roadster.
The interior was equally interesting. There was a clear separation between driver and passenger seats, as well as a wraparound dashboard that houses a digital instrument cluster. You can see the gear lever for the automatic transmission and all buttons and switches to the left and right. There was very little space in this driver-oriented cockpit.
The engine under the smooth hood was a naturally aspirated, high-revving engine that debuted in 1999 with the S2000 (AP1). The showcar featured a larger inline five engine than the original S2000. A six-speed manual was also available, but it was not available in the road-going model.
Check out these other Honda Concepts.
The NSX, a mid-engined supercar with a high performance suspension, borrowed its aluminum wishbone suspension to both the front and rear axles in order to ensure sharp handling on twisty roads. To save weight, the concept car was built with a steel monocoque. It also features dual cockpits that are lined with composite panels. Each seat had its own rollover hoops and was divided by a reinforcing beam to increase the body’s stiffness.
Honda’s latest version of a sports car, somewhat like the S2000, is the Sports Vision Gran Turismo concept . It was unveiled at the end 2017 to support the popular racing game.