Although the desire is there internally to do a second-generation S2000, the business case does not currently stack up for Honda.
Honda has an appetite to resurrect the S2000 nameplate following the release of the Prelude, but the business case for another low-volume, niche convertible might not stack up.
Speaking to Australian media on Honda's 2025 Tokyo motor show stand, Chief Engineer of Prelude Tomoyuki Yamagami revealed there is a desire from the Japanese brand to bring back one of its most famous nameplates.
“Of course, everybody thinks so,” Yamagami-san said via an interpreter when asked by Drive if he wants the S2000 to return.
“Every Honda employee loves S2000, someday, I’d like to [build another one].”
The original and only generation of S2000 was in production from 1999 to 2009, split between two versions – the AP1 and AP2 – from 2003.
In Australia, the S2000 was powered by the F20C engine, a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that revved to 9000rpm and produced 176kW/208Nm.
Drive was sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, while its fabric roof was power operated.
Japanese and US versions of the S2000 also received a 2.2-litre engine in AP2 form that increased torque to 220Nm, while also lowering the engine’s redline to 8000rpm.
The S2000’s powertrain and architecture were completely unique to that Honda model, and not shared by any other vehicle.
When asked about the possibility of sharing development of the next S2000 with another manufacturer – similar to the Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ, Toyota Supra/BMW Z4, and Mazda MX-5/Abarth 124 Spider – Yamagami-san shot down the idea because Honda might not want to dilute the nameplate.
“We know what is expected from Honda [S2000], so what is important for us to keep Honda’s DNA,” Yamagami-san said.
Honda could dip into its own parts bin to produce such a vehicle, like it has with the 2026 Prelude that is built on the Civic platform, features the Civic e:HEV powertrain, and Civic Type R brakes, but no platform is immediately suitable.
Cost and sales are also major factors, and with the brand pushing hard into hybrid and electric powertrains, it leaves little resourcing room for a low-volume convertible model.
“I think you have the right understanding that the conventional sports car is very expensive [to design, develop, and build], and the younger generation cannot afford [to buy them]," Yamagami-san said.
“[A] sports car, which has fewer quantity of production, that causes [high] prices.
“As you know, Type R is produced based on the Civic.
“This new Prelude is created and produced and developed as a combination of the Civic, Civic Type R, and HEV, so we can decrease the price.
“And still we received the feedback from buyers that it’s still too expensive.”
When the S2000 first launched in Australia in 1999, it was priced at $69,950 before on-road costs, which – when adjusted for inflation – would be equivalent to around $140,000 in 2025.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
