http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/10/the-beat-resurrected-meet-the-honda-s660/
New tiny 2-seater small-displacement mid-engined (Beat-like) car as their low-end sports car, and a compact mid-engined (AW11-like) car to compete with the Toyobaru as their mid-range sports car. 
Both are the kind of car I might buy.
Umm, yeah, I'd buy that.
I feel teased. They look great, yet the CR-Z was such a disappointment that I'm in "I'll believe it when I test-drive it" mode.
Turbocharged 1000cc engine with a real damn manual transmission please. I'd be all over that.
Meh, it's no Miata.
To call that an AW11 is an affront to MR2s everywhere. 67 horsepower!
kreb wrote: I feel teased. They look great, yet the CR-Z was such a disappointment that I'm in "I'll believe it when I test-drive it" mode.
+1. Honda is such a flaccid husk of its past self that I have little faith they can get it right.
A little skepticism is a fine thing.
OTOH, they were producing the S2000 up to four years ago, right?
I'm certainly curious to see where this goes...
pinchvalve wrote: To call that an AW11 is an affront to MR2s everywhere. 67 horsepower!
That is in the Beat replacement not the MR2 style thing.
JamesMcD wrote:kreb wrote: I feel teased. They look great, yet the CR-Z was such a disappointment that I'm in "I'll believe it when I test-drive it" mode.+1. Honda is such a flaccid husk of its past self that I have little faith they can get it right.
+1. They'd find a way to berkeley up a wet dream.
I really REALLY hope they don't. I am a Honda fan but recently it has been fail sauce. The Beat replacement looks awesome. I really hope they bring it here and really is small.
I lol'd........and who cross bread a civic with an audi r8?
ransom wrote: A little skepticism is a fine thing. OTOH, they were producing the S2000 up to four years ago, right? I'm certainly curious to see where this goes...
+1, I'm not sending a deposit in just yet, but this could be awesome.
JamesMcD wrote:kreb wrote: I feel teased. They look great, yet the CR-Z was such a disappointment that I'm in "I'll believe it when I test-drive it" mode.+1. Honda is such a flaccid husk of its past self that I have little faith they can get it right.
Most car makers could dick up the recipe for ice water. But, the link does give one hope...
pinchvalve wrote: To call that an AW11 is an affront to MR2s everywhere. 67 horsepower!
So that's not enough power? They did say that the American version would have a 1000cc engine. Honda already makes a 1,000 cc engine for the CBR1000RR motorbike that makes 177hp @ 12000rpm, normally aspirated. Would that float your boat?
Just don't have it serviced at Hennessy Honda of Woodstock. I hear they are teh suck.
I hope Honda doesn't eff this up! Gran Tourismo made me like that tiny car (Honda Beat).
poopshovel wrote: Just don't have it serviced at Hennessy Honda of Woodstock. I hear they are teh suck.
I think you'd be ok as it has a automatic trans. There is no way they could put the wrong fluid in that and would easily be able to source a replacement trans under warrante
Not likely to be a motorcycle based engine.... even in a light weight chassis... motorcycle engine powered cars tend to be unkind to the motorcycle engine.... and that would likely mean high warranty costs...
What I'd like to see... is their idea on the Twins rival
This might just become the single most engine-swapped honda ever produced
The Beat is one of the only things i'd think seriously about importing. This little roadster would be something id seriously consider after it's a couple of years old. Assuming gas is still, you know, a viable thing by that time. 
oldeskewltoy wrote: motorcycle engine powered cars tend to be unkind to the motorcycle engine.... and that would likely mean high warranty costs...
That's only because DIY BEC makers often make the mistake of not altering the bike oiling system and drivetrain to suit. Stick a good oil pan and a cush pack on it and it'd be fine.
In my opinion this is hands down one of the most enticing pieces of recent automotive news. All they have to do is: Swap out the 0.66L turbo mill for a 1.0L turbo mill, keep it over 40mpg highway minimum, give it direct/responsive/entertaining handling, put in a good old fashioned manual transmission, and keep it priced solidly under $20k fully loaded. If it can live up to that potential, I think it would be surprisingly easy to justify one as a daily work commuter.
I'd drive it and I don't even like da Hondaz.
660cc? 67 hp? Sounds like a Kei car to me...
'Course, if they sell it here, they don't have any stepped tax/parking laws to worry about.
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