4 lines, very small. 2 inch x 2 inch column space. Mentions Detroit motorshow in Jan, calls it a 2200 and says it`ll have 250 bhp?

Don`t bother buying it for that article.

 

Local dealer told me the 2.2 will replace the 2.0 and not be offered alongside.

There is a national meeting at Honda tommorrow where the 2004 lineup is to be communicated to the dealer principles. He said they will know then when they can start placing orders/reserves.

Better for the S2000 that the 2.0l is being dropped, at least then the car will be viewed as a classic almost immediately!

 

If it's true, that's fantastic news as far as I'm concerned. As the current S is appreciated by enthusiasts, ending production of it (albeit to be replaced with a new 2.2l) will only make it more sought after in years to come.

 

That's great news - we will have the original S2000! But I am surprised that the 2.2 will only have 10 bhp more. Will that make much of a difference?

 

Am I missing something here, Honda makes an update of the S with a more powerfull engine and supposedly better than the the 2ltr and this will make the 2ltr a classic. The only way that will happen is if the 2.2 is worse. You have got to assume that the 2.2 is going to be a better car.
You can just see them in the design brief room;
Mr Design Guru.." lets make a 2.2 thats better in every way to the old 2.0ltr"
Mr Honda " F##k that! lets make one thats a total bag of shite so the old one becomes a classic "
Sorry to take the rip guys. You can contact me in 20 years time and ask me to eat a large slab of humble pie if Im wrong.

 

The 2.2L will address the torque criticism thats increasing targeted at the 2L, with 250BHP its also back onto the Boxster S tailpipes and doesnt tread on the 280BHP NSX toes.

The 2L will go down as one of the greatest mass production engines of all time but its such a focused engine that its not appreciated by everyone, particuarly those turbo torque magazine lot.

 

It's not whether it's 'better' but whether is loses any character etc. The s2200 may be more suited to more people (have a wider market) but the S2000 may be a more driver oriented drive.

Remember the Golf Mk2 GTi's are better than the MK3 GTi's although the MK3 probably appeals to more people (more comfy, refined etc.) but the MK2 is a far better drivers car.

I personally don't think Honda is trying to do either of the above. This is how I think the meeting actually went.

"Hmm, most people who will buy our S2000 have already bought one. Let's 'get' them to sell their S2000 and buy the new S2200 and generate more cash for us as well as getting some new buyers"

They want more money so they've got to get people out of their current car (S2000 or not) and buy the new one, retaining the profit margin. This is why nearly ALL manufactuers update models every few years.

 

Isn't the 2.2l engine heavier, thus meaning the S2200 will be slowier???

 

I hope it doesn't go the way of the Boxster - most people think the earlier examples are considerably underpowered now and look down on them.

 

the 2.5 Boxster was always dog slow right from the start.....Porsche new the initial buyers wouldn't care much..they were buying for image not outright performance....they were able to bleed the posers first then up the ante and snag the enthusiasts with the 2.7 and S while churning those original buyers who had to have the latest Boxster offering

The S2000 was quick from day one so no worries on that score