2008 Honda S2000 CR (NY Auto Show)

[ballmode]

Pic at NY Auto Show

Pic 2

Car and Driver review

"It is significantly faster on a track, according to Honda

The result of these changes is a claimed two-second reduction in the S2000 CR?s lap time around Honda?s Tochigi test track. That?s a huge difference; you could add 50 horsepower to a regular S2000 and you might not see your lap time drop that much."



Here is what to expect:

ALL INFO SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANYTIME FROM NOW TO FALL OF 2007

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The car is already here in the US before NEW YORK in Torrance for a few weeks now. Currently here is what I understand:

Honda has focused on the Weight to Power ratio:

1. Deletion of the SoftTop
2. Hardtop instead of softtop.
3. Hardtop can be taken off.
4. 3 different colors are offered. (Never seen before in the US)
5. Seat are cloth, with yellow stitches
6. Revised wheels
7. Tuned suspensions to OUTPERFORM AP1 (2000-2003), AP2 (2004-Current) in laptimes
8. Odometer cluster will be revised
9. Centerconsole is revised
10. Shortshifter is included (I can't confirm this)
11. Bodykit
12. Car will be lighter
13. The frame will be stronger


Forget the hype... here are more pics of it.

Auto Show Pic

Pic of it on track

 

[RichieZ]

i ddin't know the base S2k was already that expensive (i had to look it up), so assuming this is about 40K its a 6K premium?

 

[Mo0o]

Cloth seats only?

Looks like the outside is basically the same

 

[vshah]

looks fun, for its intended use.

i wanna see it on top gear

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: ballmode

Rumored about 20-30more hp and making it lighter to about 2500lbs.

I would definitely like to see a 355 lb weight savings happen, especially if they manage to save the weight from where it's important (front). That's a huge difference though, and I'm guessing they'll fall short.

 

[ballmode]

Well when the Integra Type R and the NSX Zanardi editions came out, they basically were factory modded track versions of the original cars

Integra GSR < Integra Type R

For those who know a little about the S2000, the AP2 (2004+ current models) suspension was supposed to be the Type-R's, but it got canceled and they just barely tweaked it from the AP1... well except the engine.

 

[ballmode]

The stripped models will be worth a ton!

 

[ballmode]

oops double post

 

[overst33r]

Will this have the F20 engine for the US or the F22? If in Japan it has the F20, that will be simply amazing for such a little engine to produce that much power.

 

[iamwiz82]

So to lose weight they added a bodykit?

 

[thirdeye]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
So to lose weight they added a bodykit?

Body kits aren't always for looks. Besides, a quality kit won't weigh any more than the stock replacements. Depending on the material used, they could weigh less.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
So to lose weight they added a bodykit?

I am sure they will be removing some of the sound deadening materials, spare tire, lighter wheels, possibly lighter suspension components, etc. There's tons more stuff to lighten, but cost comes into the equation pretty soon. I also think 355lbs is a very optimistic number.

 

[b0mbrman]

When I owned an S2000 and took part in the club events, there were people who had tried their hand at body-lightening.

Two topics mentioned were removing the soft top and switching the seats and they said this didn't help too much. The conclusion was that most of the weight was in the chassis -- stiffening up a convertible to not bend and flex and not kill its occupants in a roll

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman
When I owned an S2000 and took part in the club events, there were people who had tried their hand at body-lightening.

Two topics mentioned were removing the soft top and switching the seats and they said this didn't help too much. The conclusion was that most of the weight was in the chassis -- stiffening up a convertible to not bend and flex and not kill its occupants in a roll

There is lots to be done to reduce weight, but it sacrifices comfort. AC, power steering, cruise control. Hell, drop the weight of the wheels and watch performance increase. How much does a stock wheel weigh? Put on some 15" that weigh 8lbs.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: b0mbrman
When I owned an S2000 and took part in the club events, there were people who had tried their hand at body-lightening.

Two topics mentioned were removing the soft top and switching the seats and they said this didn't help too much. The conclusion was that most of the weight was in the chassis -- stiffening up a convertible to not bend and flex and not kill its occupants in a roll

There is lots to be done to reduce weight, but it sacrifices comfort. AC, power steering, cruise control. Hell, drop the weight of the wheels and watch performance increase. How much does a stock wheel weigh? Put on some 15" that weigh 8lbs.

Here's what I've been working on in Notepad:

Lbs - Item
1 Mats, Visors, Owner's Manual
12 Replace for Optima Battery
30 Replace for Recaro seats
18 Replace for Tein RA coilovers
5 Remove center console
10 Remove rollhoops, insert cage
3 Remove cruise control unit
28 Replace for Wilwood Dynalite Brakes/Rotors
5 Replace for Lightweight Flywheel
10 T1R test pipe (no cat...miau)
25 AC Compressor, lines, Radiator, Fluid
20 Remove soft top (Like I said, it's not too much)
15 Replace for Volk wheels
22 Remove spare tire, tools
32 Replace for whatever brand titanium exhaust
---------
246 Total

...and that's without taking away insulation, sound deadening, carpet so I suppose Honda could make it happen at the factory.

But this isn't cheap. Those brakes alone are $3000 :Q

 

[DougK62]

Barf - those pictures look terrible. They could've just left the S2000 body alone - it looks great already.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: DougK62
Barf - those pictures look terrible. They could've just left the S2000 body alone - it looks great already.

There's a lot more to this update than looks...

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: DougK62
Barf - those pictures look terrible. They could've just left the S2000 body alone - it looks great already.

There's a lot more to this update than looks...

I realize that - I read the article. I'm just saying that I think they should have left the body alone - maybe just give it the few new colors and some lighter/fancier wheels and be done with it. That would be hot.

 

[Heifetz]

Geez, they've totally riced the s2000.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: DougK62

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: DougK62
Barf - those pictures look terrible. They could've just left the S2000 body alone - it looks great already.

There's a lot more to this update than looks...

I realize that - I read the article. I'm just saying that I think they should have left the body alone - maybe just give it the few new colors and some lighter/fancier wheels and be done with it. That would be hot.

I'm sorry; I should have been clearer. There's more to the update to the body's exterior than looks

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Heifetz
Geez, they've totally riced the s2000.

It aint rice, if it's quick like a bat out of hell and hanles like roadster should

 

[ballmode]

Club Rice imo.

8 years and this is all it has seen for updates... a new suspension... 2.2 liter... geared for more torque, but gets worse MPG with no HP bump.

Yes, the dynos show the 2.2 is a stronger motor, but its not night and day, plus they lowered the redline to 8k instead of 9k.

Even if the stripped version is down a few more hundred pounds... you can still take your regular S2k and do whatever it takes to make it a track car and it will still be as good as this.

Aftermarket wheels and new rotors/pads will outshine this for the money.

GOD i'm pissed

 

[Parasitic]

How exactly are cloth seats much lighter than leather?

 

[Trianon]

bump cause I love my AP1 s2K

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: DougK62

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: DougK62
Barf - those pictures look terrible. They could've just left the S2000 body alone - it looks great already.

There's a lot more to this update than looks...

I realize that - I read the article. I'm just saying that I think they should have left the body alone - maybe just give it the few new colors and some lighter/fancier wheels and be done with it. That would be hot.

I'm sorry; I should have been clearer. There's more to the update to the body's exterior than looks

The rear bumper and side sills don't do anything for performance. You could argue that a front bumper could, but it doesn't seem like that one will.