Honda
Naturally aspirated, 9,000 rpm redline, 50/50 weight distribution. The Honda S2000 is one of the great driver cars of any era.
The Honda S2000 is a two-seat roadster produced from 1999 to 2009. The car was developed to celebrate Honda 50th anniversary and represents one of the most extreme naturally aspirated factory engines ever produced. The F20C engine in the AP1 generation made 240 horsepower from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder revving to 9,000 rpm, a specific output of 120 horsepower per liter (the highest specific output of any naturally aspirated production engine at the time). The S2000 chassis was equally extreme. 50/50 front-rear weight distribution. Front-mid-engine layout (the engine sits behind the front axle line, putting more weight inside the wheelbase). Six-speed manual transmission as standard with no automatic option. Rear-wheel drive with a Torsen limited-slip differential. The result is one of the most balanced, most engaging two-seat roadsters ever produced. The AP1 (1999-2003) and AP2 (2004-2009) generations differ slightly. The AP2 received the F22C1 engine (2.2-liter, slightly more torque, redline reduced to 8,000 rpm), revised suspension geometry to reduce the snap-oversteer characteristic of early AP1 cars, and various trim updates. Production ended in 2009 with no direct successor; the Honda S660 kei roadster of 2015 referenced the S2000 spirit but at a much smaller scale. On WhipJury, S2000 submissions reliably do well in voting. The community recognizes the engineering significance and the rarity (Honda built fewer than 130,000 globally across both generations). Track-prepped, OEM-plus, and clean-stock examples all find strong support.
AP1 (1999-2003). F20C engine, 9,000 rpm redline, 240 horsepower. The original. Snap-oversteer characteristic at the limit due to specific suspension geometry.
AP2 (2004-2009). F22C1 engine (2.2 liter, more torque, 8,000 rpm redline), revised suspension geometry (less aggressive at the limit), tighter trim integration. The CR variant (Club Racer, 2008-2009) was the focused track variant with stripped interior, hardtop, and tightened chassis tuning.
The F20C is one of the most respected production engines ever made. Naturally aspirated, 2.0 liters, four cylinders, dual overhead cam with VTEC. Specific output of 120 horsepower per liter (240 total). 9,000 rpm redline. The high-rev character of the engine (and the dramatic increase in power and sound past 6,000 rpm) defines the S2000 driving experience.
AP1 and AP2 submissions are common. Track-prepped builds with hardtops, sticky tires, and aero kits reliably do well. OEM-plus modifications (Mugen front lip, sport exhaust, lowered suspension) are popular. The CR variant is rare but always memorable. The community recognizes the engineering achievement and respects clean execution over flash.