The first Honda S2000 Club Racer review is in

Daniel Pund at Inside Line posted the first test-drive review of the new 2008 Honda S2000 CR. We were very curious about this “new” S2000, one that may signal the end of the Honda roadster’s legendary 8-year run. Would shedding 100 pounds off the stock car and tweaking the double-wishbone suspension further produce better performance numbers?

Unfortunately, the Inside Line test-drive doesn’t include any raw comparison data in terms of acceleration or track times (hopefully that will come with future reviews), but it sounds as though the so-called “Club Racer” doesn’t bring anything more to the table than standard performance enhancements that are relatively easily matched in the aftermarket. So, perhaps the predicted $3-$4 thousand price premium over the standard S2000 isn’t quite justified.

That aside, it’s interesting that Honda’s R&D Chief Shigeru Uehara admits effectively maxing out the 2.2 liter 4-cylinder S2000 engine power-wise. Given drivability and emissions restrictions, there is simply no more power to be had without forced induction (which goes against all conventions of Honda’s line of S-roadsters).

Built at the same Tochigi, Japan-based plant that produces the NSX, S2000s don’t go through an automated assembly line like just about every other Honda, or most commercial cars for that matter – they’re built at individual work stations by separate teams. The attention to detail clearly shows, as the car features an ultra-tight chassis, rigid drive-train, perfect 50/50 weight distribution and one of the slickest shifters on the planet in the close-ratio 6-speed manual. It will be sad to see the S2000 go, when that does happen. But, we'll keep a close eye on its possible successor.