This is from the motoring section of yesterday's New Zealand Herald newspaper ...
Interesting plan by Honda? Surely not --------------------------- A vague rumour doing the rounds is that Honda is considering a baby S2000 to rival the Mazda MX-5 and Toyota 86 / Subaru BRZ.
Citing unnamed sources within Honda, US website GTChannel is reporting the possibility of a small, lightweight, low-cost roadster that could be named the S1500.
Under the bonnet would be a VTEC engine, displacing anywhere from 1.3 to 1.5 litres, with the website proposing the idea that the 1.5 litre, 100kW power plant from the Honda Jazz could make its way into the new roadster. Weight would be in the area of 900kg, which would make 100kW fairly lively. Rear-wheel drive would be essential, although the suggestion that a five-speed manual will be on offer is disappointing. Albeit in keeping with Honda's current transmission thinking.
As we say, it is very vague and unconfirmed, but we really do hope the company that has spent the last decade ridding itself of anything vaguely interesting in its line-up will actually give enthusiasts something to cheer about again.
Quite how these fools think a two-seater roadster like the MX-5 and the supposed Honda S1500 are in the same class as a 2+2 sports coupe is beyond imagination ... but the same idiocy was rumouredly beeing looked at by Nissan who were supposedly planning to release a new version of the Nissan 200sx / Silvia as a competitor for the Mazda MX-5 a few years ago (and thankfully never happened!). :-\
They're two entirely separate classes of vehicle. If Honda or Nissan wants to compete with the Mazda MX-5, then they need a roadster. If they want to compete with the Toyota 86 / Subaru BRZ then they need a proper 2+2 sports coupe ... and for Nissan that would mean properly bringing back the 200sx / Sivlia, which reportedly Nissan management have said isn't going to happen. :-(