Honda S2000 AP1

Honda S2000 AP1

The Honda S2000 was created to celebrate Honda's 50th anniversary in 1999, and it showcased everything Honda did best: high-revving naturally aspirated engines, precise chassis dynamics, and engineering elegance. It was a pure driver's car, with no compromises.

The F20C engine was the star. A 2.0-liter inline-four with VTEC variable valve timing, it produced 240 hp — 120 hp per liter, the highest specific output of any naturally aspirated production car at the time. It achieved this through engineering rather than brute force: lightweight forged pistons, sodium-filled exhaust valves, individual throttle bodies (on JDM models), and a stratospheric 9,000 RPM redline. The engine made virtually no torque below 6,000 RPM, then came alive with a ferocity that rewarded committed driving.

The chassis was equally focused. Front-midship engine placement (behind the front axle), double wishbone suspension at all four corners, an exceptionally rigid backbone frame, and electric power steering provided razor-sharp feedback. The 6-speed manual gearbox had one of the shortest, most precise throws in automotive history.

In 2004, Honda updated the car to AP2 spec (US-market), adding a larger 2.2-liter F22C1 engine with more low-end torque (at the expense of a lower 8,000 RPM redline) and revised suspension. Purists debate which is better — the razor-edged AP1 or the more accessible AP2.

The S2000 was discontinued in 2009 with no replacement. It remains Honda's last traditional front-engine, rear-drive sports car and a benchmark for naturally aspirated driving purity. The CR (Club Racer) variant — a hardtop with stiffer suspension and reduced weight — is the ultimate version.