Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Affordable, lightweight Honda roadster revival in the works?

There's a joke phrase from a popular movie that gets tossed around the Autoblog offices when ever a big change or announcement is coming: "Hold on to your butts." It's usually accompanied by a video of Samuel L. Jackson. That's the advice we'd recommend for reading this article. GTChannel is reporting that a new, small, lightweight, quick successor to the Honda S2000 is being "seriously considered."

Citing an unnamed source within the Japanese automaker, GTChannel goes on to list a few interesting tidbits about the new vehicle. From the sounds of it, though, if Honda is planning a new roadster, it's in the absolute earliest stages of development.

What's apparently being discussed is a car that's smaller than a Mazda MX-5, in terms of its dimensions. Under hood would be a VTEC engine, displacing anywhere from 1.3 to 1.5 liters, with GT Channel making the apt suggestion that the 1.5-liter, 132-horsepower mill from the Honda Fit could make its way into the new roadster. Curb weight would be in the realm of 2,000 pounds, which would make a 130-odd-hp engine seem absolutely heroic. Rear-wheel drive would be a given, although we aren't sure about the site's suggestion that a five-speed manual will be on offer. Styling could draw from the N-One, a popular, Honda-badged kei car.

As if this isn't all sounding too good to be true, the source also claims that Honda is targeting the $20,000 price point. The potential MX-5/Toyobaru fighter could be ready by 2015 or 2016. Now, we've checked our calendars, and April 1 is still over seven months away, but we'd still advise you take this with a rather large grain(s) of salt. Rumors of a new Honda roadster have appeared and disappeared with tide-like regularity since the moment the S2000 died, and none of them have come to pass. The NSX revival was followed by nearly a decade of will-they, won't-they rumors and telephone-game whispers before Honda actually buckled down and built something. It seems like the same thing could be happening here.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/12/a...dster-planned/

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

RWD or don't even bother

gengar

I yearn for the days when Honda was a leader and not a unicorn factory.

Hopefully this turns into something real that also isn't just a MX-5 wannabe.

Outrage

This is the vehicle upon which the styling would be based, according to the article:

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

^^ that looks neither roadster or RWD

don't bother Honda

I8ABMR

with the FRS and BRZ flying off lots ( FRS really) Honda better wake up.

UDel

Some of these rumors are being mistaken for a Japanese only rwd kei car or Honda Beat replacement which is why they are saying it will be so small and weigh so little, this small car is not a replacement for the S2000 and it is very unlikely to be sold in the US. There are some rumors of a S2000 replacement with a turbo engine based on what is going in the upcoming Euro Civic type R though they are just rumors now and it is a ways away if anything happens. A 130hp S2000 successor smaller then a Miata would be a joke and would not sell in America.

LexFather

Cliffs of this thread and any supportive post

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

13IS250C

I had an S2000 and I loved it. In 4 1/2 years, it never went back to the dealership. Of course, after having what I have now, I could never go back.