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To those who say having something other than an I4 would ruin the character, I say, "pshaw!". A V6 could be shorter, keeping the CG reasonable. A 2.5 litre V6 would have less volume per cylinder, and could be tweaked to spin even faster. Dream if you will about a 12k rpm I4, but a 10k 2.5L V6 could get to the 300 hp mark and have stump pulling torque. I would have no problems with that at all.
Keep the F20C, simply the best 4 made for mere mortals, and drop some weight. 2800lbs / 240HP = 11.6 lbs/HP. The equivalent of 60HP is 700 lbs. That's the kind of straight line performance you'd get from 300HP with the benefit of handing and tossability you'd get from a 2100lb car. We're talking Elise beater.
How?
Composites. Build the body panels from composite materials, it doesn't have to be CF, it can be Kevlar (bulletproof ) or even glass. It would be significantly lighter, easier to repair and possibly stronger. The bumpers are already plastic why not go all the way.
Could you imagine how much more fun the S2000 would be to drive if it only weighed 2100 lbs??? It would easily pull more than a G and would make it the fastest thing on the road or track. Make um lighter people!
I was going to say 1600lbs but I didn't want to be too greedy
Originally posted by jackgarlic
I don't think U.S. spec Elises are street legal.
The Elise isn't street legal...because it does not pass crash tests, not because of emissions.
I love the F20C and since I have had 3 of them, I can speak with some authority on the topic I would like the car to have more torque and the easiest way to do that is to add cylinders/displacement. dbrower, I think you are right on...adding another 2 cylinders doesn't necessarily take away from weight distribution or balance. In fact, the polar moment effects might even work in its favor since the block would only extend 3 cylinders instead of 4 aft of the cockpit firewall.
Bieg, you make an excellent point about the fact that hp varies, while the weight remains constant. However, the addition of beefier drivetrain components do not NECESSARILY mean adding weight. Using a CF driveshaft or other composite materials in the drivetrain could make the extra beef be a wash, IMO. However, the one thing that you would impact is the cost. That lightweight/strong stuff ain't cheap.
I'm not even proposing that Honda put a 6 in...I just would like to see more torque out of this motor and this is just one way that it could be accomplished.
But I love my car...the motor is badass. I just got back from a drive...oh yea, this is another good one...
OMG!! I just agreed 100% with Bieg!!! I'd better go lay down
Another penny while I'm still here...
I personally don't want any of the other cars in the same class as the S2000, the Boxer, Boxster S, Z3, etc. What I like about the S2000 is the approach to building this car. In a sense it pushes classical to the extreme. There are no real high-tech, gee wiz, gimmicks, just a simple refinement of an original simple but sound concept.
The engine is the shining jewel, a basic inline 4 cylinder taken to the extreme state of the art. The S2000, if I understand correctly, doesn't have a V6 because the classic European roadster didn't have one. The funky digital dash I don't care for much but when a suitable replacement comes out I'll consider changing it.
The design of the car comes down to the most basic and essential items but still making it usable. It's not a racecar, or a muscle car, or a luxury car. It's a drop top 2 seat roadster that screams DRIVE ME!!
So while the other cars keep adding shit and bloating them out with nick knacks I appreciate Hondas good sense in keeping focused. Each MY I dread that they will start Jonesing and adding crap to it with the idea that they have to because everyone else is doing it. If I had to make the call, I'd say **ck what everyone else is doing, how do we make this car better. If you read my previous post you'd know how I'd do it.
I don't agree with Bieg; I don't think having more low end torque is evil, nor that wanting it turns you into a closet Corvette lover.
There are real reasons not to have a v6, it is that a v6 is less balanced than an i4, and is therefore harder to make spin as fast-- and spinning fast is where it's at for this car. They'd need to add all kinds of balance shaft stuff to smooth it out, and doing ivtec on both banks of a V would take a bunch of space in the front end that might not be there, and complicate the gazout piping.
I'm just saying a V6 is not an intrinsically bad idea, if the balance, power/weight, and high rpm fun are still there.
All things considered, I'm not opposed to the S2000 being a Daytona Convertable to the NSX's 512BB. I'd probably be a willing buyer of a 300hp V6 S2500 with paddle shifting and traction control for a $40k sticker. I think the vtech, electric power steering, bar-tach, torsen, abs and HIDs are high tech. I don't mind tech, as long as it's in the go-fast/go-slow parts of the car. Well, I might want the GPS too. But I don't need 9 way power seats, memory mirror locations, 7 speaker stereo, or 40 more pounds of sound dampening.
If I'd wanted wimpy but pure in spirit, I'd have gotten a Miata.
I think iVTEC'ing the S2000 would provide that little bit more low end torque. But reducing weight seems to be a good idea - starting with the driver! I think I can help with about 2-3 hp!
) or even glass. It would be significantly lighter, easier to repair and possibly stronger. The bumpers are already plastic why not go all the way.
I would like the car to have more torque and the easiest way to do that is to add cylinders/displacement. dbrower, I think you are right on...adding another 2 cylinders doesn't necessarily take away from weight distribution or balance. In fact, the polar moment effects might even work in its favor since the block would only extend 3 cylinders instead of 4 aft of the cockpit firewall. 
