Honda S2000 (1999–2009): Specs, History, Variants and Buyer's Guide
In 1999, Honda built a car that made no commercial sense. It had no turbocharger, no automatic gearbox, no all-wheel drive and no practical roof. It had two seats, a manual folding canvas top, a naturally aspirated four-cylinder that spun to 9,000 rpm, and a chassis developed specifically for it. Honda called it the S2000, and over ten years and roughly 110,000 cars it became one of the most honest performance cars ever to leave Suzuka. This is the full story of the car — what Honda engineered, how the AP1 and AP2 generations differ, what the special editions actually changed, and what the numbers on the VIN plate tell you before you ever open the bonnet. At a glance. Front-mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-seat roadster. 2.0-litre F20C (1999–2003) or 2.2-litre F22C1 (2004–2009), both DOHC VTEC, both paired exclusively with a six-speed manual and a Torsen limited-slip differential. Built at Honda's Suzuka plant from April 1999 to August 2009. Around 110,000 units worldwid...