Honda planning roadster to celebrate 70 years

Honda is secretly developing a replacement for its S2000 roadster to celebrate 70 years of manufacturing, according to a new report that also says a commemorative motorcycle will be built to chime in its seventh decade.

Setting a precedent back in 1998, the original S2000 (pictured) was launched to mark Honda's 50th anniversary, adding weight to the new claims and previous reports about a born-again S2000.

The rumour that the Japanese car- and bike-maker is planning to celebrate with a new roadster and superbike come from a source said to be close to Honda, according to US magazine Car & Driver.

“Based on the company’s MotoGP contender, the bike will be a detuned, road-going version of the RC213V-S.

“As for the car, expect something special. Size-wise, it’ll be similar to the Mazda MX-5 Miata but the Honda will have a lot more power.”

According to the insider the new S2000 will be based on an all-new front-engine, rear-wheel drive platform and could arrive as soon as 2018.

Car & Driver has tipped the future S2000 to come powered with a detuned version of the 230kW/400Nm 2.0-litre VTEC turbo that powers the Civic Type-R.

The US magazine suggests the small roadster will be built to a target weight below 1300kg.

According to the Car & Driver source, Honda has already begun work on the roadster and is developing it in Ohio in the US with help from some of the key engineers involved in the NSX supercar project.