Honda Could Revive the Legendary S2000 — But Don’t Get Your Hopes Up

The iconic Japanese sports car might return, though for now it remains only a dream inside Honda.

The Honda S2000 is one of those cars that left an indelible mark on automotive history. Born at the end of the 1990s, it became a symbol of pure engineering and driving passion, thanks to its high-revving naturally aspirated engine and rear-wheel-drive layout. Yet, more than 25 years after its debut, rumors of its comeback appear to be just that – rumors.

The engineers want it, but management doesn’t

In an interview with Drive, Tomoyuki Yamagami, chief engineer of the new Prelude, admitted that “every Honda employee loves the S2000” and that he would love to build a successor. However, he also acknowledged that there are no concrete plans within the company to bring it back. According to Yamagami, if such a project were to happen, it would be developed entirely in-house, without external partnerships like the Toyota 86 or Subaru BRZ – a decision that would significantly drive up production costs.

Yamagami also noted that the new Honda Prelude, which already uses Civic and Civic Type R components to reduce costs, has faced feedback for being “still too expensive.” If a modern S2000 followed a similar development path, its price could easily exceed $40,000, placing it dangerously close to rivals like the Nissan Z, Ford Mustang GT, or Toyota GR Supra.

For context, the original S2000 started at $35,705 in 2009, which adjusted for inflation equals over $56,000 today. While that would place it in a premium bracket, the car’s true appeal always lay in offering dream-worthy performance at a reasonable price–something increasingly rare in today’s SUV- and EV-dominated market.

Produced between 1999 and 2009, the Honda S2000 saw more than 110,000 units built, most of which were sold in the United States. With its 240-hp four-cylinder engine, perfect balance, and distinctive high-rev sound, it earned a cult following among purists. Even today, it remains one of the most beloved sports cars of its era – and while Honda’s engineers dream of its return, for now, it seems destined to remain a legend of the past.