2008 Honda S2000 CR Preview

Foodies everywhere know that the combination of heat and time can yieldastonishing results in the kitchen. Take for example balsamic vinegar or port; if you let them simmer for a while, they reduce into an intensely flavored and very tasty syrup. This practice allows all the complex flavors to come through more boldly, and the taste that results is refined and outstanding. It would appear that Honda's engineers fancy themselves as gastronomes, because they have cooked up a new recipe with the S2000 as the main ingredient. For 2008, Honda has announced that it will build a special version of the S2000 called the CR, which stands for Club Racer. Think of it as an eight-year concentration vintage S2000, the perfect accompaniment to a lovely summer's day at the race track.

Those that have driven the current S2000 know that it is a true and accomplished sporting machine. In a world full of pretentious cream puff convertibles that like to think of themselves as sports cars, the S2000 makes no apologies or compromises; it's 100-percent focused on delivering thepurest roadster experience. The heart and soul of the S2000 is a screaming 2.2-liter inline-four that begs to be wound up at all times. Matched to what might just be the world's best six-speed manual, razor sharp handling and a light and nimble chassis, the “S2K” is a favorite of people who relish the raw sports car experience. With these fresh ingredients, it's easy to imagine the possibilities of the S2000 CR.

Interestingly, the only part of the car that remains unchanged is the engine. It still makes 237 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and 162 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm, complete with its aggressive high-profile cam change and banshee wail. The six-speed manual gearbox, with its shortly stacked ratios and short throw is also the same as on the regular S2000, though it's capped off with a new shift knob and a yellow-stitched boot.

Unlike most special editions, it will be easy to tell the S2000 CR apart from regular S2000s just by lookingat it. The biggest changes can be found in the aggressive aerodynamic bodykit. A combination of skirts with spoilers - front and rear - makes up the majority of the modifications. These were done to improve the car's downforce while at the race track. These eye-catching add-ons might not be to everyone's tastes, but no one will argue over their effectiveness at keeping the car glued to the tarmac when approaching the car's limits. The S2000 CR also has a shaped, hard tonneau cover giving it the look of a classic roadster.

The other part of the CR package, the suspension and chassis modifications, are a little harder to spot, but no less important. The car's perfect 50:50 weight distribution and stiff setup of the double-wishbone suspension benefits from even more aggressively tuned springs and dampers. These changes are complemented by a quicker setting on the electric power steering rack designed to sharpen the handling, while larger, and stickier Bridgestone rubber will ensure that the new S2000 CR
raises the bar in the handling department. These changes are something that buyers who spend more time on the track are sure to appreciate.

In their exhaustive search for chassis rigidity, Honda's engineers pulled out all stops in order to beef up the structure. They wanted to fit massive braces to strengthen the body structure, but the braces wouldn't fit so they've removed the folding convertible roof and its electric motors, which beside freeing up space, helped to drop the car's weight by 88 pounds. Buyers will still receive some form of weather protection with the aluminum hardtop roof, which is offered as standard. As long as it doesn't rain on your weekend blasts up your favorite back roads to the track, things should be fine.

Despite all the changes made to go faster on the track, Honda wants the car to be capable of handling daily driving duties. It certainly seems possible, given the relatively docile nature of the current S2000. Besides the low ride height and the minimal trunk space, it's a pretty easy vehicle to drive, with precise steering, a light clutch feel and generally speaking, a quiet exhaust note, that is, when you're not making frequent trips to redline. The only obvious drawback we can see is the firmer ride.

Still, given the concentrated tang that the 2008 S2000 CR should be capable of delivering, we are probably not the only ones looking forward to a tasting. The S2000 CR was first shown to audiences at the New York International Auto Show as a prototype, but Honda has committed to putting it into production, albeit in limited numbers. Pricing has yet to be released, but we'll know more when it goes on sale this autumn.