I know what you mean. However, there's a fair bit out there about Honda's "small born" plants being profitable because of how Honda sets things up. For example, an ecerpt from a 1999 article - "Over the past several years, Honda has opened automotive facilities in China, Brazil and Thailand with capacities between 10,000 and 30,000 units. Due to the small investment required, each of these facilities was able to operate efficiently and - more importantly - profitably. "

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FW...11/ai_n27553672

Honda has lots of experience with small production runs. Plus, the Tochigi plant was already well established - an not only established, but also extremely familiar with the small-scale assembly process because of the Insight and NSX. It's pure speculation to discuss retooling costs, but I have no difficulty believing that the S2000 has been a very profitable car for Honda. Especially when the CEO said so.

 

That concept is really reminding me of the Civic Type R (EU)

 

This is correct. He stated that since the car had a hand-built small numbers approach or some such, that the car would make money after 6 months of production.

Not to mention.... Honda only anticipated 5000 units per year

It consistently achieved WAY MORE sales than this target. For a few years, sales were consistently in the 9000units/year range.

Although the S2000 is far from being a money maker it has been a profitable enterprise for Honda for many reasons:

1. As a halo vehicle, it has put Honda on the map and drawn consumers to showrooms.
2. R&D from the S2000, has made its way into the ubiquitous K series engines that power everything in Honda's lineup. A lot of the tech found in the K series was a result of the R&D done for the F22C.
3. It has consistently sold well for Honda. For a company that may have anticipated 50000 units at most for the car worldwide, the S2000 has sold closer to 100,000 units worldwide. As I mentioned earlier, the S2000 consistently sold in the 9000 units/year range for a few years. This is Amazing when you consider the fact that this is a focused 2 seater sports car that is offered as a manual.

Porsche usually sells 4500 Boxsters per year. BMW sells around 9000 Z4s per year. I'd say Honda has done well, especially considering the fact that they haven't spent extensive money redesigning the car since inception in 1999.

However, its time for a new one to lead the way. And the OSM might provide the styling cues.

 

I'm liking it, at least the interior. The exterior I'm not 100% sold, and I HIGHLY doubt it'll look like that for production (I've been wrong many times b4). It's better looking than recent Honda/Acura cars at least.

 

Here's to dreaming what we will never have:
V6
Option of Coupe or Vert
11,000 RPM

And that open roadster that debuted in Europe is strange lookin', especially from the back....

 

I agree that after S2000, Honda will not have any product that can be called a sports car. OSM is FWD, so will be at most a "good handling sporty car", not a true sports car.

I doubt that Honda will give up on sports cars. They never have.

Last but not least, what you call a "flappy-paddle-gearbox" has been used in F1 cars for a long time, and most Ferrari's and Lamborghini's have switched to them long time ago. Automated manuals, especially the dual-clutch versions, are the feature.

 

I really like the front end, the back though...

 

That's exactly what I was thinking. If they retained the S2000's proportions/ drivetrain and keep the current tail lights (but slightly redesigned), this concept would be freaking hot. I love the headlights/ bumper, the more angled windshield, the side mirrors, and the rear bumper. Interior wise, I would get rid of the top tier display and have the speedometer inside the RPM gauge like in the CRZ.

Also the lines on the side profile reminds of the the Benz SLK.

 

Here are more pictures of the OSM.

OSM

I don't like how it gets really thick near the windshield compared to the S2000.

 

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com...honda-s2000.htm

This consumer guide has some rumors about the 2009/2010, although I assume it is just a set of speculations as the information does not seem to be reliable. I decided to throw it out there, as it may be a possibility, but seems unlikely.