Honda first revealed the concept for the S2000 in 1995 at the Tokyo Motor Show. It was called the Honda SSM (Sports Study Model). This was the very first glimpse of a potential successor to the Honda S500, S600, and S800 roadsters from the ‘60s.
S500 (1963-1964)(1363 built)
The S500 was the second production car from Honda and its first passenger
automobile. (It was a larger-displacement variant of the S360 roadster which, though developed for sale in 1962, was never produced). The S500 weighed 725kg (1598lb). It was produced and sold only in Japan. There were a few pre-production S500s manufactured in LHD, but all the production S500s were RHD. The S500’s engine came with a 531cc (originally intended to be 492cc) DOHC I4 engine, equipped with a 4-speed manual, and FR layout. This tiny NA engine cranked out 44hp at 8000 rpm, and had a 9500 rpm redline! The S600 and S800 also had a 9500 rpm redline. (These are some of the highest revving production cars ever).
S600 (1964-1966)(11,284 roadsters & 1,800 coupes built)
Similarly, the S600 also had a 9500rpm redline. The engine in the S600 was a DOHC I4 606 cc. It produced 57hp at 8500rpm and had a top speed of 90mph. The roadster also only weighed 1576 lb. Like the S500, the S600 had an independent suspension with a sealed chain drive to each rear wheel, and had a 4-speed manual. The S6000 was the first mass-marketed Honda car. It was also the first offered only in RHD, but it soon became available in LHD to appeal to export markets.
S800 (1966-1970)(11,536 built)
Introduced at the 1965 Tokyo Motor Show, the S800 would replace the successful Honda S600 as the company's image car. The S800 engine was a 791cc DIGC I4, equipped with a 4-speed manual. In 1967, the S800 became available in Great Britain. The S800 products 70hp at 8000rpm, making this Honda's first 100mph vehicle! In April of 1967, the car was proclaimed the fastest production 1-liter car in the world thanks to its high revving engine (10,000rpm redline).
Sports Study Model Concept (SSM)
At the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda finally gave the world hope of a new roadster. The Honda SSM concept car was the concept of the S2000.
The SSM body & interior was designed by the Italian design house, Pinifarina. A RWS roadster powered by a 2.0L inline 5-cylinder engine. It featured a rigid "high X-bone frame" and a 50:50 weight distribution, which was implemented in the S2000. While the S2000 offered a fabric top and a hard top, the SSM had no roof at all.
The SSM implemented a 5-speed auto transmission derived from the NSX 4-speed auto "F-matic" transmission. The SSM also borrowed the NSX's wishbone suspension.
The interior isolated the driver and the passenger. The cockpit was very driver-oriented, and the gear lever was on the left-hand side. The SSM had a digital dash which inspired the one in the S2000.
Both the driver and the passenger side had their own rollover hoop, and between the seats there was a reinforcing bar to increase the stiffness of the body. The SSM kept appearing in many auto shows, hinting that Honda would soon unveil a production version.
S2000
After some vital revisions and improvements, the production version was launched in Japan on April 15th, 1999. The car was designed by Daisuke Sawai. The exterior stayed quite similar to the SSM. Honda decided to name their new roadster the "S2000", following the naming convention of the previous S roadsters, to continue the legacy.
The official model for the world market was the year 2000. (It's possible that Honda delayed the unveiling so that the S2000 would be the "transition" car into the new millennium, for marketing purposes).
AP1 (1999-2003)
The first version of the S2000 was given the chassis code of "AP1" and was produced from 1999-2003. The AP1 weighed 2809 lbs, which is quite heavy for a roadster. However, the X-bone frame and 50:50 weight distribution makes the S2000 very nimble. The AP1 had the F20C engine, which was a NA2.0L (1997cc) I4 DOHC VTEC engine, equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. Depending on the market, this engine produced 237-247 hp and 153-161lb-ft torque. Furthermore, the AP1 had a 9000 rpm redline.
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