The Honda S2000 is a roadster that was manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. It was launched in April 1999 and was created to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. The car was first shown as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1995, following which it was launched in world markets in 1999. The S2000 is named for its engine displacement of 2 L, carrying on in the tradition of the S500, S600, and S800 roadsters of the 1960s. Several revisions were made throughout the car's lifetime, including changes to the engine, gearbox, suspension and interior and exterior. Officially two variants exist: the initial launch model was given the chassis code AP1, while the AP2 designation was given to vehicles produced from mid-2003 onwards. Though cosmetically similar, the AP2 incorporated significant changes to the drivetrain and suspension. Production of the S2000 ceased in June 2009.
Introduced at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show, the Honda Sport Study Model concept car was the design study for the production S2000. The SSM was a rear wheel drive roadster powered by a 2.0 L (122 cu in) inline 4 cylinder engine. It featured a rigid X-bone frame which Honda claimed improved the vehicle's rigidity and collision safety. The hood was aluminium and the car had a 50:50 weight distribution.
The SSM would appear unchanged in many automotive shows for several years afterwards, hinting at the possibility of a production version, which Honda announced in due course in 1999. Carrying on the tradition of the company's 1960s S500, S600, and S800 roadsters, the new vehicle was named the S2000.
The S2000 was introduced in 1999 for the 2000 model year and was given the chassis designation of AP1. It featured a front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout with power being delivered by a 1,997 cc (122 cu in) F20C inline 4 cylinder DOHC-VTEC engine producing from 237 hp (177 kW) to 250 PS (184 kW), and from 153 lbf·ft (207 N·m) to 22.2 kg·m (218 N·m) of torque depending on the target market. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and Torsen limited slip differential. The S2000 achieved what Honda claimed as the "top level performance in the world" for a 2-liter naturally aspirated engine.
Features include independent double wishbone suspension, electrically-assisted steering and integrated roll hoops. 16 in (41 cm) wheels with Bridgestone Potenza S-02 tires were standard equipment. The compact and lightweight engine, mounted entirely behind the front axle, allows the S2000 to obtain a 50:50 front/rear weight distribution and lower rotational inertia. An electrically powered vinyl top with internal cloth lining was standard. Honda made available an aluminum hardtop for additional cost.
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