The 2012 Honda S3000 - Drive
A typhoon of rumors has been swirling around Hondas headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, about the companys next generation of sports cars. While we have already seen spy photos of the future NSX, we have not seen anything about the next-generation S2000. A source close to the company revealed that Honda is indeed in the process of building such a car, but wouldnt disclose specific details.
The OSM (Open Study Model) concept car definitely raised some eyebrows recently at the London show, but that car was just a convertible version of the CR-Z hybrid sports car shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. The OSM was penned by Hondas Euro
pean design team, and our people tell us that the real S2000 successor will have mu
ch more influence and input from Japan. Also, the CR-Z and OSM have been engineered as front-engine/front-wheel-drive models, and the S2000 successor will no doubt be a rear-wheel-drive car. So apparently the OSM has nothing to do with the S2000 successor. Or does it...?
Theres the possibility that the OSM may very well be a design study of the next S2000, wearing the veil of an open-top CR-Z to throw us off. There was also a sighting of a mysterious prototype sports car near Hondas R&D headquarters in Japan that seemed to share the OSMs proportions, yet looked completely different. Could this be another design study of t
he
S2000? We think so, so we took pieces of that car, melded it with the OSM and came up with this image, a handsome car with an Audi R8-esque face, a long hood and a profile re
miniscent of the current S2000.
As shown by our artist’s illustrations, the S3000 wold borrow design cues from the OSM (Open Study Model) and CR-Z concept cars. Despite the dramatic new styling, however, the new “S” will stay true to its predecessor’s lightweight construction and tight proportions.
Not a lot else is known about the vehicle, but Honda is definitely trying to make
it more competitive in terms of styling and comfort. Although it will remain a puristic roadster at heart, the S3000 will be a little less stripped-down.
In October 2005, Honda’s Motoatsu Shiraishi admitted the “S2000 has not been a success for us.” He suggested a different approach would be taken for the car’s replaceme
nt. He said the car’s manual gearbox was a turn-off to many potential buyers. Shiraishi hinted the successor would have to offer a paddle-shift gearbox to broaden the appeal. The new sports car — whatever its name — is expected to arrive in 2009 along with the next NSX supercar.
