Almost a year ago on a message board far, far away I posed the theory that Honda left little room for HP improvement without forced induction or displacement increase.

I feel this engine is similar to their bike engines in that it is so highly tuned from the factory that trying to increase HP by improving engine breathing would almost be pointless. In the bike world after a K&N filter, a pipe and jets little is gained elswhere without overbore kits or forced induction.

The S2000 is built closer to the tuners fine edge than any other street engine available IMHO. I stated that I would be very surprised if anyone could get 20 HP without forced induction or increasing displacement.

So a year later has anyone gotten a verifiable 20 HP?

 

Bieg,

I think you post a year ago was prescient; some people have spent a ton of money, but I don't think the total gains reach the 20 you set down.

Rick

 

From what I've heard and read: Big money, small gains.
However, the gains have been noticeable, and if that's enough to make someone happy, why not do it? There is something very satisfying about personalizing and improving the performance of your own car to make it unique.

 

It appears that the intelligent upgrades have yielded some improvement in throttle response and a little fattening of the torque curve without adding much to peak power numbers. Real gains that are felt in everyday driving at a moderate cost. But you are right, substantial gains (~10%) are not to be had without big changes.

 

Good points. With an engine like the S2k's, I'd say the only really desireable one to most might be a smoother torque curve.

 

I don't have the exact numbers with me right now but we were able to extract (peak) 15 Hp and almost 20 ft-lb of torque at the wheels.

The gains throughout the the whole powerband are also good and improves the low end, which is perfect for this car.

But you are right, it doesn't come cheap.

 

It just goes to show you what an AMAZING job Honda engineers have done. I am constantly amazed at just how efficient this engine is.

By ANY measure this is probably the most efficient (street legal automobile) engine in the world.

HP per Liter
HP per pound of engine weight
HP per (overall) size of engine
HP per total exhaust emissions
HP per fuel efficiency

I am also of the opinion at this time that overall the single best HP increasing modification (per dollar) is a K&N air filter. If they would just come out with a direct drop in replacement I will be happy.

 

It sure looks like Bieg is right about this. From what I've read here it seems that adding a new filter, pipes, and jets (or in our case a new CPU map) to the S2000 makes less of an improvement than with bikes. I'm afraid the only "easy" mod (i.e., not involving boring, compression ratios, or cams) left is pressurizing the intake manifold.

I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this soon as turbo and SC kits come onto the the market and people install them. I'll be an interested observer, but don't feel any need for more power myself.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bieg:
[B]It just goes to show you what an AMAZING job Honda engineers have done.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bieg:
[B]

I am also of the opinion at this time that overall the single best HP increasing modification (per dollar) is a K&N air filter.