Honda S2000 to rise from the dead as MX-5 rival

Honda is set to reinterpret its S2000 as an affordable alternative to the Mazda MX-5.

The news that the S2000 is set to return as a roadster has been revealed by Autocar, following our report last year that the original front-engined convertible will be revisited as a mid-size, mid-engined rear-drive coupe Honda resurrects S2000 and news in September that it will be powered by a 220kW 1.5-litre turbo petrol-electric powertrain Honda targets mid-size Euro coupes.

It also follows reports that Honda’s advanced engineers recently attended British S2000 owners’ club events to gather feedback for the new car.

Set to stick to the front mid-mounted engine/rear-wheel drive formula, the S2000 is expected to be pitched as a faster rival to the Mazda MX-5 and forthcoming Fiat 124 Spider.

Although Honda is still reportedly considering a 'baby NSX' mid-size mid-engined sports car, it's understood the born-again S2000's open-top, two-seat formula has been prioritised in response to the success of the MX-5.

However, Autocar says work must now be done to develop -- or find -- a suitable rear-wheel drive architecture for Honda's more affordable halo model.

Multiple powerplants are being considered for the son of S2000, apart from a more powerful version of the 110kW 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder that’s already fitted to Hondas in the Japanese domestic market.

There are also rumours that the new 230kW/400Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four from the latest Civic Type-R could also be used in a more hard-core version of the S2000, which will almost certainly be badged ‘Type-R’.

Originally, it was hoped the cute Kei-car S660 mid-engined roadster might be re-engineered as an MX-5 rival but, according to Autocar that’s less likely now as the baby roadster is deemed, within Honda, as not having broad enough appeal to justify the cost of homologation outsiude Japan.