I am going to be the cynical party pooper here -- I have absolutely no faith in today's Honda to deliver on anything that might closely resemble the PS job we see in the top post, and I won't belief a word Honda says until I see an actual product in the showroom.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tone Loc
(Post 8705445)
That being said, currently the economic climate is generally pretty good that many manufacturers are enjoying success with people buying sports cars once again, so from a business standpoint it makes sense. It doesn't take someone with an MBA to see the success of the FRS/BRZ and excitement surrounding the new Miata, and the new low price of the 370Z. Right now, Honda currently doesn't have any 2/+2, lightweight, sporty RWD cars so it would make sense to release something just under the $30,000 price point. Plus, a new S2000 would be in line with other moves (new NSX, Civic Type-R, JDM S660) for Honda to go back to making fun cars again.
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Personally, I'd say the economic climate in the US is somewhat optimistic. Unemployement rate is low. Interest rate is low (although that will likely change soon). Oil prices are at record low. Pressure on inflation is low. These are all good signs for people to splurge on fun cars.
Having said that, I would have to thoroughly disagree with Tone Loc's assessment on the sports car market. The FRS/BRZ has continued to prove itself as a market failure. In the US, sales for Subaru in the first 10 or 11 months this fiscal year has already exceed the total sales figure for Subie last year. Ever car in their line up experienced sales growth, except for the BRZ, which actually reported fewer sales.
New FRS'es are also not selling well -- Toyota seems like it is only on pace to sell ~60% as many FRS as they did in 2013, which was their banner year.
Considering that the new Miata only came out in late summer, I'd say it is selling sufficiently well. Still, the sales number are no better than they were when the 3rd car came out -- I'd say the 3rd and 4th gen cars are only roughly selling at the same volume during their first model year, and the NA/NB sold in much higher numbers. We notice a lot of buzz on the ND Miata because we are car enthusiasts, and most informed enthusiasts are aware of the car's fantastic performance, and praising it as such.
As far as the S2k rendering goes, it should be super easy to see that the front end is a massaged version (lengthened and flattened) version of the NSX front end. The rendering looks nice because the hood is nice and low. The NSX can do this because it is a mid-engine car -- there is nothing in the front bonnet, so it is easy to meet those pedestrian crash standards that require a minimum empty gap between the hood sheet metal and the engine hard parts. If an S2k were to be made, as an FR car, there is no way it can retain such a low sleek hood.
Looking at the 2016 Civic, the CTR, S660 and the NSX, I also have no confidence in Honda's design team to create a beautiful looking car. Have you seen the a$$ end of a new 2016 Civic sedan? and all that overwrought lines and stuff all over the CTR and S660? How generic supercar the NSX looks?
Last but not least, to quote a friend who is very familiar with Honda products (and he is an old skool Honda fanbois as well), a car manufacturer doesn't step away from the sports car game for 10 years, and expect to come back as the top dog in their first sports car when they get back into the market.
I will say that should Honda decides to produce a new age S2k, it will feature a phenomenal engine -- as long as the engine only runs on gasoline.
