[Antevis?o] Honda S Series: S660 - S1000 - S2000
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reckoner00
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Honda S660 takes shape
Honda will not confirm the launch of its hot new mid-engined S660 mini-coupe outside of Japan just yet. But then again, it’s not denying it either. And that’s good news.
Why? Because we’ve heard stories before about Japan-only models not headed to certain major markets but eventually finding their way onto container ships.
Remember the Honda Jazz, the compact car that debuted in Japan in 2001, but took three long years to reach the US? The S660 looks like following in the Jazz’s footsteps. But its overseas debut could be much sooner and looks like packing a far bigger punch that the Japan-spec model.
Honda revealed the S660 last year's Tokyo motor show and, as we revealed in May, hasconfirmed it for production by January, before first examples hit Japanese showrooms in February. However, while Honda Australia is keen on the S660, it is yet to be confirmed for introduction in any export markets.
The rear-wheel drive mini-coupe employs a mid-engined, turbocharged 660cc petrol engine generating upwards of 48kW mated to a choice of either six-speed manual or CVT gearboxes, the latter with flappy paddles.
That doesn't sound like much, but when you're talking about a coupe that weighs well under 900kg, 48kW takes on a whole new meaning.
And this is where the story gets interesting. For those in Japan and other Asian markets who feel that 47kW just isn't enough, Honda is working on a tweaked S660 that delivers around 66kW and incorporates the best from the company’s aeroparts bin.
As can be seen in this artist’s impression of what the souped-up S660 could look like, the coupe will employ a carbon-fibre front spoiler and rear wing as well as flared wheel-arches and larger wheels.
But to an international audience of sports car enthusiasts that expects more power and thrills — especially from a company that boasts the NSX, S2000 and Civic Type-R — Honda is planning an even more powerful export model.
In addition to the 66kW version of the Japan-spec S660, our sources have revealed that Honda R&D is currently testing an export model – rumoured to be called the S1000 — that will be fitted with a more powerful 1.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine, wider body and bigger wheels.
We tested just such an engine in a Civic prototype last year and it showed great promise and pace with more than 103kW. Obviously Honda’s racing arm Mugen (which is currently putting the final touches on the McLaren-Honda F1 engine for 2015) will have a pivotal role in fine-tuning the hottest S660.
Honda is very much aware of the next-generation Mazda MX-5, due to hit showrooms late next year. While there will also be a 2.0-litre developing around 125kW, the base model will come with a 1.5-litre engine offering around 100kW — right in the S1000’s ballpark.
Also fresh in Honda product planning’s collective mind will be the recent collaboration of Caterham and Suzuki, who combined forces to create the Seven 160, a Caterham powered by a Suzuki-built 60kW 660cc three-cylinder turbocharged petrol.
The S660 and S1000 will take the ballgame right up to Mazda and Suzuki with a sharp-looking, mid-engined coupe that will offer Honda’s famed handling and short-throw gearboxes.
But Honda is not stopping there. Remember the electric EV-STER concept that debuted at the 2011 Tokyo show? Strangely, or maybe not so, that coupe strongly resembled the S660.
So Honda may not have just built the S660 to accommodate small petrol engines, but also allowed for an EV powertrain to be dropped straight into its engine bay, thus creating a small electric city sports-commuter.
A mid-engined coupe with petrol and electric options? Could this be a sign of future things to come Honda? Expect the S1000 to emerge in early 2016 (around the same time the new NSX arrives in Australia) and the EV version to follow it by 2017.
Rendering:
yyyeeeessss....
Venha de lá ele. Daqui a uns poucos anos quero estar indeciso entre um MX-5, um S1000 e o MX-5 italianizado[
]Só falta mesmo um MR2 para o ramalhete ficar completo[
]
reckoner00
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Interior do S660
reckoner00
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]
ShakesBeer
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O interior parece bastante simples, prático e funcional. Venha ele. Estou muito curioso [kiss]
reckoner00
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Mrodrigues
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Belo regresso.
reckoner00
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Honda S660 review | Auto Express
Honda is on a mission to inject some sportiness back into its brand. We saw the new NSX and Civic Type R at the recentGeneva show, it’s F1 engine supplier comeback is underway and now it’s added a third, somewhat smaller, performance car to its range. First shown in concept form at the 2013 Tokyo show, the S660 is a spiritual successor to the Beat, sold here in the early nineties.
Like the Beat it features a mid-engined layout, with a 660cc, three-cylinder turbocharged engine to meet tax laws in its home market of Japan, but there’s a twist. An inside source told us that the company is also currently working on an export version, that’s earmarked for the UK, with a more powerful 1.0 litre turbo, rumoured to pump out more than 127bhp. Now that would give the new Mazda MX-5 a real run for its money…
As we arrived at Sodegaura Forest Raceway, 90 minutes southwest of Tokyo, three S660s sat in the paddock looking almost identical to the 2013 concept car that spawned them - a rare treat these days. The S660 is the result of an in-house contest that began four years ago where over 400 young engineers submitted ideas for new vehicles to company bosses, and the S660 design came out on top.
Honda has developed a one-off mid-engine, rear-wheel drive chassis just for the S660 constructed out of an aluminium and steel sub-frame that’s stiffer than the old S2000. The Japan-spec S660 might be fitted with an uninspiring 63bhp engine, but we’re told this chassis could take more than twice that power. You can feel the rigidity, too, in high-speed corners or under full braking.
Tipping the scales at just 830kg, the S660 employs the same three-cylinder, 660cc turbocharged engine found in the popular N-Box kei-car. However, to improve throttle response, engineers have revised the turbo geometry to produce quicker off the mark acceleration and stronger mid-range torque.
To lift the overall performance of the engine, the redline is raised from 7,000rpm to 7,700rpm, while a deeper oil pan helps to cope with the higher G-forces during cornering and braking. The turbo spools up at around 2,500rpm and delivers a healthy dose of torque right up to the redline. It’s between 5,000 and 7,700 rpm that the engine really comes to life, though, letting out a high-pitched metallic raspy roar that betrays the engine’s tiny capacity.
Following in the footsteps of the S2000’s legendary gearbox and shifter, the S660 incorporates a notchy transmission with delightfully short throws and just the right amount of synchro in all gears. It has well-positioned pedals, a light clutch and the gear ratios are superbly matched to the engine.
We realize that there is not a lot of power on tap, but even when pushed into a corner at 60mph, the rear end just does not budge. Honda’s ‘Agile Handling Assist’ system regulates brake pressure to the inside front wheel to enhance cornering, and to complete the package, specially developed 15-inch Yokohama Advan Neova tyres provide traction levels previously unheard of in kei-car handling.
The downside of all that grips, and the fact that the traction control can’t be switched off, is there’s no oversteer to play around with. But there’s no understeer either, just solid, dependable handling. There’s just enough weight in the steering, sufficient feedback and a crisp turn-in. And yes, even a six foot two inch journalist can sit fully inside the cockpit and change gears without smashing his knees on the steering wheel. Only just, mind you.
Inside, the cabin is tight, but comfortable. The extra-small 350mm diameter steering wheel fits nicely in the palms and the stick shift is exactly where it should be. Seats sit low in the frame, trim levels and interior materials are plasticky yet passable, and the large centrally-located tachometer sets the tone, while the dash-mounted display offers drivers the option of a game-like G-meter that gives cornering and braking Gs in real time.
Perhaps our only question marks are the lack of raw power and fiddly soft-top roof, which must be manually folded away and placed in the tiny boot. But other than that, the S660 takes the kei-car genre to new heights. Considering Europe’s ever-more-crowded roads, it’s a game-changer and one we’re praying makes it to the UK with that gutsier 1.0-litre powerplant.
Key specs
- Price: 1,980,000 yen (£11,130)
- Engine: 660cc three-cylinder turbo
- Power: 63bhp
- Transmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
- Economy/CO2: n/a
- On sale: 2016 (est)
Verdict - 4/5*
What’s not to like about a small, sporty and affordable mid-engined Honda? The S660 proves that Honda is creeping back to its best and shows performance cars can come in all shapes and sizes. If Honda decides to fit it with a more powerful engine and export it to Europe, as we sincerely hope it does, then the MX-5 could have some serious competition.