2004 Model Announcement
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Seal Beach
I just heard the real 2004 S2000 story from someone I cannot identify. It's entirely consistent with the first posting in this thread, that the car will be changed dramatically.
Honda has decided that the roadster/sports car market is just plain saturated and that there is no reason to spend what is needed to make the leading car in this class, given where Nissan, Infiniti, BMW, and the Porsche Boxter are positioned.
Thus, the Honda S2000 will end its production with the 2003 model year. However, much of the engineering work that is in the car will be used, as Honda will make a product that will capitalize on the strong reputation of the S2000 for performance, but cater to the market niche available to them. They will make a vehicle very much like the Porsche Cayenne, called the Wasabi. For a powerplant, they will follow what VW has done on the Passat W8 and build a 4.0 liter engine from two S2000 motors, a project that started in the beginning of 1992. With the incorporation of iVTEC, the engine will produce 388 ft.-lbs. of torque and 440 HP, with a redline of 8,250 RPM. (This arrangement completely outclasses the Cayenne S' 4.5 liter V8's ouput of 310 ft-lb and 340HP and demonstrates performance entirely competitive with the Cayenne Turbo 460 ft-lb and 450 HP, without the disadantage of turbo lag.) A six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic come standard, with Sequential SportShift on the automatic. Four-wheel drive with traction control with essentially the same features as those on the Cayenne S is also standard.
In North America, the Wasabi will be marketed by Honda's Acura Division. The base price is not yet determined, but it should be about $52,950 without voice-controlled navigation, somewhat below that of the Porsche Cayenne S ($56,665, including delivery), while the performance will be the equal of the $89,665 Carerra Turbo.
Or maybe not.
Honda has decided that the roadster/sports car market is just plain saturated and that there is no reason to spend what is needed to make the leading car in this class, given where Nissan, Infiniti, BMW, and the Porsche Boxter are positioned.
Thus, the Honda S2000 will end its production with the 2003 model year. However, much of the engineering work that is in the car will be used, as Honda will make a product that will capitalize on the strong reputation of the S2000 for performance, but cater to the market niche available to them. They will make a vehicle very much like the Porsche Cayenne, called the Wasabi. For a powerplant, they will follow what VW has done on the Passat W8 and build a 4.0 liter engine from two S2000 motors, a project that started in the beginning of 1992. With the incorporation of iVTEC, the engine will produce 388 ft.-lbs. of torque and 440 HP, with a redline of 8,250 RPM. (This arrangement completely outclasses the Cayenne S' 4.5 liter V8's ouput of 310 ft-lb and 340HP and demonstrates performance entirely competitive with the Cayenne Turbo 460 ft-lb and 450 HP, without the disadantage of turbo lag.) A six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic come standard, with Sequential SportShift on the automatic. Four-wheel drive with traction control with essentially the same features as those on the Cayenne S is also standard.
In North America, the Wasabi will be marketed by Honda's Acura Division. The base price is not yet determined, but it should be about $52,950 without voice-controlled navigation, somewhat below that of the Porsche Cayenne S ($56,665, including delivery), while the performance will be the equal of the $89,665 Carerra Turbo.
Or maybe not.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 0
From: Orlando
Originally posted by BigWave10
Looks like the cat is finally creep'n out-of-the-bag. I haven't done much checking lately but I am supposed to meet with my info source next week around 5/24. Wonder if they've seen any pics yet. More to come....
Looks like the cat is finally creep'n out-of-the-bag. I haven't done much checking lately but I am supposed to meet with my info source next week around 5/24. Wonder if they've seen any pics yet. More to come....
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Boca Raton
UPDATE 05/24/03
As promised I just met with my Honda connection today and here's what he had to say....
In a recent "zone meeting" top brass from American Honda (CA) made the following information available to GM's and others on the 2004 S2000:
- new gear ratios for both trans and rear
- more room inside (due to inner doors cut-out and no longer protrusive in the cabin)
- all new body panels (to make the car appear larger). From the description it sounded like the overall look will probably not change too much.
- redesigned instrumentation
I inquired about a new 2.2L or any other changes in the engine neither of which he could confirm or deny. He did say that no engine changes were mentioned in the meeting. I also brought up the recent Honda literature stating a 2.2 engine (on a recent thread) and he could only say that he had not seen it.
As promised I just met with my Honda connection today and here's what he had to say....
In a recent "zone meeting" top brass from American Honda (CA) made the following information available to GM's and others on the 2004 S2000:
- new gear ratios for both trans and rear
- more room inside (due to inner doors cut-out and no longer protrusive in the cabin)
- all new body panels (to make the car appear larger). From the description it sounded like the overall look will probably not change too much.
- redesigned instrumentation
I inquired about a new 2.2L or any other changes in the engine neither of which he could confirm or deny. He did say that no engine changes were mentioned in the meeting. I also brought up the recent Honda literature stating a 2.2 engine (on a recent thread) and he could only say that he had not seen it.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 1
From: Sheridan
Originally posted by BigWave10
I inquired about a new 2.2L or any other changes in the engine neither of which he could confirm or deny. He did say that no engine changes were mentioned in the meeting. I also brought up the recent Honda literature stating a 2.2 engine (on a recent thread) and he could only say that he had not seen it.
I inquired about a new 2.2L or any other changes in the engine neither of which he could confirm or deny. He did say that no engine changes were mentioned in the meeting. I also brought up the recent Honda literature stating a 2.2 engine (on a recent thread) and he could only say that he had not seen it.
I imagine that they could put it in the color chip brochure and still change their mind and not release it. The information BigWave10 got is similar to what my dealer heard at the Las Vegas show.