Honda S2000 2-litre i-VTEC GT

Model tested: Honda S2000 2-litre i-VTEC GT
Price as tested: £28,600
Range price: £28,050 – £28,600
Insurance group as tested: 20
Insurance group range: 20
Tested: February 2008, Brands Hatch, UK
Road tester: Vijay Pattni
On sale: NowMaking a sportscar is a numbers game – take a classic rear-wheel-drive layout, minus the practicality, multiply the fun, and add a monster engine.

The BMW Z4 comes fitted with a 192bhp 2.5-litre engine; the Porsche Boxster gets a 228bhp 2.7-litre ‘boxer’ lump.

So how can the Honda S2000’s 2-litre engine compete?

Vijay Pattni went to Brands Hatch to see if it all added up…

Novelty socks, handkerchiefs and CDs – birthday presents are usually a mundane affair.

But Honda’s engineers decided to celebrate the company’s 50th birthday with a little more zing – the Honda S2000.

Built in 1999 to celebrate 50 years of Honda, the spec-sheet of the Honda S2000 reads like a sportscar purist’s dream – rear-wheel-drive, lightweight construction and excellent mechanics.

And now, Honda has revised the stunning S2000 with a host of suspension upgrades to mirror the version sold on the Japanese market.

Cockpit

Step inside the S2000’s low-slung cabin and you immediately get a feel for the car’s nature – the seats are supportive and strong, while the small-diameter steering wheel is stubby and perfectly positioned. The pedals and footrest are nicely spaced apart and the high-transmission tunnel makes the gearbox sit at exactly the right height – marking the S2000’s interior as more fighter-jet cockpit than cabin.

Twist the key and thumb the red starter button – a neat touch – and suddenly the engineering begins to reveal itself.

A bark-like burble on idle distinguishes the Honda S2000 from its rivals – but this is not the most unique fact about the amazing engine.

Power!

Using an advanced engine-timing called VTEC, the 2-litre petrol unit in the Honda S2000 spins to a dizzying 9,000rpm and produces 237bhp – making it one of the world’s most powerful 2-litre engines.

In fact, this engine has won four International Engine of the Year awards in its category.

But although Honda has extracted a whopping 237bhp from the 2-litre, the power is confined within a certain rev-range. Keep the S2000 under 6,000rpm and it feels like somebody has left the handbrake on.

And although the cabin is comfortable, the engine makes a lot of fuss at lower speeds with a harsh warble, meaning slow-town traffic can become a bit of a headache.

The noise insulation could be better – an equivalent BMW Z4 is quieter at lower speeds making for a more comfortable cruiser.

In the zone

But – and it is a big but – floor the throttle and shoot the Honda S2000 past 6,000rpm and everything changes.

The engine note becomes a rasping, electronic touring-car-drawl and the slinky S2000 rockets off the line with real zest – 0-62mph is covered in just 6.2 seconds and, where allowed, will rocket onto a top speed of 150mph.

As soon as the Honda S2000 reaches the magical 6,000rpm VTEC zone, the acceleration is vicious and instant.

Any headaches are banished as the S2000 comes alive – and this is partly thanks to its excellent on-road behaviour.

On the move

The 2008 model Honda S2000’s revised suspension components, including better springs and thicker anti-roll bars, give the car stability and poise.

We took it through bumpy village back-roads and challenging A and B roads and found the Honda S2000’s ride to be supple, composed and forgiving. It provides enough feedback through the steering wheel and chassis on what’s going on underneath – but not enough to make you feel sick.

The car doesn’t crash over potholes or hunt around in the road, instead tracking ahead to your chosen line – the steering feel is nicely weighted and communicative, but never becomes tiresome or unwieldy.

On the track

And this composure makes the Honda S2000 a perfect trackday tool.

We drove the S2000 at Brands Hatch – in the soaking wet – and were won over by its balance and feel through the bends. Thanks to the car’s perfect 50/50 weight distribution, it tracked cleanly through the course with acres of grip and – crucially – performed it without the drama.

A couple of hairy moments of power-oversteer were avoided thanks to the Honda S2000’s Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) – which gently applies the brakes to the individual wheels (depending on the situation) to stabilise the car’s movement and predictability.

Pump those guns

And keeping the Honda S2000 in the power band – between 6,000rpm and 9,000rpm – requires constant gear shifting, unearthing another of the car’s unique characteristics.

Where a BMW Z4 gearbox has to be muscled into action with its unique knuckle-like throw, changing gear in the Honda S2000 is like reloading a high-power precision rifle – the shift is short, razor-sharp and powerful.

It is one of the great joys offered by the S2000, and with the manic VTEC engine zinging to 9,000rpm, working the six-speed short-throw gearshift is a real pleasure.

The new 2008 Honda S2000 is a remarkable piece of machinery – while it lacks the low-speed cruising ability of the BMW Z4, it hits back with a purist punch, making for a more focused sportscar.

With outstanding reliability, handsome looks, a well-finished interior and excellent handling, the Honda S2000 is one of the best sportscars for the money.