Reports are out, Honda S1000 is a go for production

Word is that the S660 will be exported with a bump in displacement and and twice the power of the JDM version. I am eagerly awaiting it and will buy one as soon as they become available.

Motoring.com.au article

Here's a rehashing of the info through MSN and Motor Trend

Second link

I'd love to see an S1000 face off with the new Miata.

Oooh. This interests me.

Yeah, that's pretty cool.

If sub $20k base is achieved I will be there for a test drive quite fast.

Ooooh. Interesting.

So a powered-up hardtop S660? HELL YES!

I'll believe that it hits the US when I see it on the showroom floor.

and even then I'll probably force myself to drive to a 2nd dealership for confirmation.

In reply to singleslammer:

I realistically expect the car to be price similarly to a new Miata. Probably about $25 to $30K

Very interesting. First Honda that's been even a little interesting in years other than the S2000.

It's so tiny. Why does it need to be so overdesigned?

Duke wrote: It's so tiny. Why does it need to be *so* overdesigned?

My thoughts as well. I like the concept, and maybe it's just that I'm older, but I don't care for the over the top styling. I would prefer a more classic sports car shape, but if it does come to the U.S., I'll likely want to test drive one anyway. I didn't like the looks of my GS-R either, but the driving experience more than made up for it.

jimbob_racing wrote: In reply to singleslammer: I realistically expect the car to be price similarly to a new Miata. Probably about $25 to $30K

That is the price for Japan. For USA, it's probably $35k-$40k

I looked up the base price in Japan (1.98M Yen) and at todays conversion rate that is about $16.6K. Hardly room in there for doubling the price. I really think that the US version (pending actually happening) could be under $21k new.

In reply to Sine_Qua_Non:

It would fail at that price point.

In reply to bravenrace:

I am not sure that it would make it if the base price was equal to a new Miata either. It is likely to be similar performing but with fewer daily comforts, like a good trunk and the usual road comfort that an additional 500 lbs gives.

In reply to singleslammer:

I agree. I have owned a lot of Honda's, and really like them. But if it was the same price as a Miata, I'd take the Miata. I'd be interested in it if it was about $5k less than the Miata.

It says the Type R S1000 will be priced at $30,200 AU which is $23,648 US at the current conversion rate.

I'm not sure how I feel about that - but I don't expect to ever really see one for sale in this country so I suppose it's a moot point.

Dealers will attached the dreaded 'market adjustment'.

In reply to trucke:

But likely that would go away one the first 500 are sold to people with more sense than money. After 6 months of sitting on lots I imagine that msrp would be easy.

I predict a lawsuit from BMW over the S1000 name.

not sure that it works since Honda has had an S series for 50 years. Also, BMW has the S1000 RR, S1000 XR, and the S1000 R. No straight S1000.

In reply to singleslammer:

Yes, but Honda has never had an S1000, and the name is very similar.

This thing is sweet.

I like the scoop. The weight seems too high for 126hp.

"While 126 hp doesn’t sound like much, it should be plenty for a mini-car that weighs between 1,875 and 2,000 pounds. "

I'm also curious as to how much cargo capacity there is. That's sort of a deal breaker for many in regards to the MR2 Spyder.

It looks like it got body kit VD before it left the factory. No thanks.