Honda’s S2000 left the building in 2009, but its spirit continues to live on in the hearts of car fans. Digital artist Theophilus Chin, often known as Theottle, has revived that spirit with this magnificent current S2000 roadster with Prelude style.
Chin’s design honors the S2000 while embracing the Prelude. The proportions are the same: long hood, low stance, two-seat cabin with fabric top. Even though the concept is based on photographs of the facelifted S2000, every body panel has been reinvented. The front headlamps come from the Prelude, with a thin grille and a bold bumper intake that give the car a striking appearance. The sides are clean and flowing, with flat door handles and small aerodynamic vents located behind the front fenders. Rolling on 19-inch wheels from the Prelude’s “Sports Style” package, which is available in Japan, this S2000 feels both familiar and forward-looking, like a bridge between generations.
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At the back, the design gets bolder. A full-width LED light bar across the back is a modern trend and the bumper is framed in black trim. Dual exhausts are still prominent, paying homage to the original’s sportiness and the tail loses the delicate curves of the 1999 model. This rear will divide the fans—some will love the modern flair while others will miss the classic elegance. But overall it’s the S2000’s soul in a Prelude body.
Chin expects a combustion engine to power this roadster concept, judging by the exhausts. A likely candidate would be the Civic Type R’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder which produces 325 horsepower. This engine is famous for its high revving power and would fit the S2000’s performance heritage. Adding a hybrid system would give more power and economy, which is Honda’s goal of 13 new hybrid cars by 2030. But the added weight of the batteries would clash with the S2000’s lightweight, driver focused nature. Enthusiasts who want the raw, unfiltered feel of the original’s 9,000-rpm redline may be wary of electrification even if it gives more power.
Underneath the surface there’s a bigger problem: the platform. Honda doesn’t have a rear-wheel drive chassis for a tiny roadster. The Prelude, which is based on a front-wheel drive architecture, can simulate aggressive handling with fake gear shifts but lacks the rear-drive balance of the S2000. To compete with cars like the Nissan Z, a dedicated platform would be required which would be expensive for a low volume car. Honda’s focus on hybrids and SUVs makes such an investment unlikely so this concept remains a “what if” rather than a production reality.
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