Well, it looks like there is a horsepower war brewing in the roadster class:

Here are the current heavy hitters:

AMG SLK32: 354hp
BMW Z3M: 315hp

Here's what is in the pipeline and will debut in 2003:

Porsche Boxster S: 290hp
Nissan 350Z Convertible: 300hp

and possibly even a V6 Miata.

Clearly, the S2000 is about to be outgunned in a big way. In order to up the hp, Honda would most probably have to replace the F20C with a V6, though there is still some room to grow in the F20C.

Incidentally, Nissan has put their best chassis engineers on the Z. The goal is to make it the best handling car Nissan has ever made.

 

Automobiles are like computers. . .every couple of years there's going to be something bigger and better!

I think now that Honda has let the Prelude go away. . .

They may be more inclined to give the S2000 a little more boost!

 

On the U.S. front the S2000 is also about to loose, badly, the NA hp/liter competition with the introduction of the RX8 with the Renesis rotary. 250hhp from 1.4liters (could be 1.5 or 1.3 I don't quite remember.)


Hey, doesn't matter to me all I have to do is drop the top and go for a spin and the magazine articles won't matter all that much.


Hugh

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by S2kRob
[B]Well, it looks like there is a horsepower war brewing in the roadster class:

Here are the current heavy hitters:

AMG SLK32: 354hp
BMW Z3M: 315hp

Here's what is in the pipeline and will debut in 2003:

Porsche Boxster S: 290hp
Nissan 350Z Convertible: 300hp

and possibly even a V6 Miata.

Clearly, the S2000 is about to be outgunned in a big way.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by hpalmer
[B]

 

I'm not concerned, if I wanted pure power I would have bought a British car (TVR etc).

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chris S
[B]AMG SLK32 - costs way more, auto only, won't likely handle as well
BMW M Roadster - ditto ex. avail. w/ manual

 

Lets all think for a minute-----where can you go 100mph+ w/out getting busted or in a wreck? ( other than a track)

I look at performance, style, and its reliability.

 

Hey, we are all in this together! I already have my deposit in for the '03 BoxS in case it does go to 290HP+. If I can just keep my current car from having a serious track mis-hap, I am hoping to recover most of the cost.

Don't look at it as threat to your current car. Look at it as the potential for having an even BETTER car. The ones that benefit most from this awesome availablity of roadster talent is US...the good old consumer. It wouldn't make sense to hope no one makes a better car just so our current car could stay at the top. And if nothing else, you loved your car when you bought it, so even if you stay in it while there are faster cars coming out, it is still the same great car you originally purchased.

So, enjoy this sports car renaissance while it lasts. I am sure something will come along to put a halt to all this fun.

 

More HP wont make those roadsters more fun to drive. They all need a new chassis!