Honda S2000 - Damn close to perfection

Premium

Honda S2000 - Damn close to perfection

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on May 29, 2026

Text:

Martin Sigrist, translated by DeepL

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

51

Honda Newsroom

20

Honda

2

Laurent Missbauer

1

Honda / Werk

1

75

Honda S2000 (2005) - It has already embarked on the road to becoming a classic

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Agile and good-natured

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - The principle of the long hood and short rear end

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - The Swiss importer provided the inspiration for series production

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - a driver's car through and through

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - One of the last analog car experiences

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Ideal for winding country roads

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - The Honda does not carry the fun to the outside, but to the driver - typically Japanese

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Engine and drive harmonize perfectly

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Design without weaknesses

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Perfect Honda country

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Exciting technology, attractively packaged, a recipe for success

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - At the beginning there were only four exterior colors

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Simple, skillful Japanese design

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Even with 75,000 kilometers it feels like a new car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - The third brake light serves as a tear-off edge

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - The roll bars are cleverly integrated

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - One of the best Japanese cars in recent history

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Along the lake and over the mountains...

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Has no need for driving assistants

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - The shape was already praised at the premiere in spring 1999

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Honda's own birthday present

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - cuts a fine figure even when closed

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - The electric roof takes only 6 seconds

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Open-top driving is child's play

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - The single-ply soft top is very compact

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Perfect road holding

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Sovereign, Japanese understatement

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Sportiness without an aggressive appearance

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Julio Saitz, proud owner since 2011

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - The 2-liter easily revs up to 9000min

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - DOHC engine with variable camshafts

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Red shrink paint for the look

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - A clever trick prevents whirls up to 100kmh

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - From two-wheeler manufacturer to global corporation in 50 years

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - The Honda brings the start button back into the automobile

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Self-talking controls

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - The other view of things from Japan

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Push-button starter

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Extremely crisp gearshift

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Better than a vacation in the south

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Two sunbathing areas with extra entertainment

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Red zone at 9000min

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Julio Saitz has covered a good 50,000 intensive, enjoyable kilometers with the car so far

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - It will probably never be for sale

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S800 M (1969) - compact convertible

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2000) - See-through drawing

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Chassis with subframe

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Sectional view of the DOHC 16-valve engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (2005) - Integrated X-brace and side impact cross brace

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Claude Sage was a consultant to Honda Europe until 2004

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (1999) - The four-cylinder engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (1999) - The wheel suspensions

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (1999) - See-through drawing of the two-liter engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (1999) - Designs for Honda's SSM study 1996

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (1999) - Press photo with optional hardtop

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Honda S2000 (1999) - Press photo from 1999

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

You have only

1 out of 75

images seen in high resolution

Summary

No platform, no existing engine, no shared components with other models: The Honda S2000 is a unicorn within the large Honda group, a drill and an expression of the Japanese manufacturer's uncompromising approach.

This article contains the following chapters

Swiss initial spark
The fascination of sports cars
Stiffer than some coupés
Second hand
For all the senses
Predestined to become a classic

Estimated reading time: 10min

Preview (beginning of the article)

There are many great marketing ideas that are implemented half-heartedly by the development departments; budget limits are usually the reason. Or there is a lack of desire to follow up the sales department's insistence with a convincing concept. What remains are compromises. This word is completely alien to the Honda S2000. It is exactly what it wants to be: a two-seater roadster with all the ingredients that such a car needs. Or even more, with what was considered at the end of the 20th century to be the essence of such a car. As is always the case with the Japanese company, it is no coincidence that Honda stopped at nothing to develop the S2000. With the S2000 in 1999, the company wanted to celebrate how far it had come since its foundation by Sochiro Honda 50 years earlier. The S2000 is, so to speak, Honda's birthday present to itself and to the brand's fans.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: