panda[cRx]
08-01-2009, 11:47 AM
as found on:
http://speedhunters.com/archive/2009/01/07/news-gt-gt-honda-cuts-more-projects-including-new-s2k.aspx
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090106/FREE/901069977
Honda cancels V8 program, S2000 and CR-Z convertible, report says
By GREG MIGLIORE (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=&category=contact)
http://www.autoweek.com/graphics/zoom1.gif (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090106/FREE/901069977&Show=0&template=zoom&Site=CW&Date=20090106&Category=FREE&ArtNo=901069977&Ref=AR&CRED=Honda) A favorite of enthusiasts, the S2000, appears to be on the chopping block.
Honda
Fun appears to be on the chopping block at Honda. Plans for the successor to the S2000 sports car, a lineup of rear-drive Acuras, a proposed V8 engine and a drop-top built off the CR-Z hybrid are all dead, according to a report in a British magazine.
The reason: Honda is rethinking its product plans as it grapples with the global downturn in sales and economic conditions, Autocar is reporting.
In the United States, Honda’s sales fell 8 percent last year and fell 35 percent in December. Tough times have led to the demise of the NSX supercar program, which would have had a front-mounted V10 and was to be a 2010 model.
Now, Honda also has decided to shelve a rear-drive V8-powered BMW-fighting Acura that was due in 2015, according to Autocar. The V8--long a sticky issue with Honda’s green image--was seen as the wrong powerplant, given the sporadic price of fuel.
The Japanese automaker remains doubled-down on hybrids with a slew of them, including the new Insight due in the spring. Honda also sees diesel power as the best short-term option for larger vehicles.
Damn. Just a few weeks after we reported that Honda had halted developed of the next gen NSX (http://speedhunters.com/archive/2008/12/18/news-gt-gt-next-gen-nsx-cancelled.aspx), there's word that they are scrapping some of their other projects as well. According to an article published on Autoweek.com, Honda is stopping development for the S2000 replacement, the CR-Z sports hybrid, and rear wheel drive luxury sedans that would be powered by a new V8 engine. The toughest news has to be the demise of the S2000 replacement, as it's been one of the most popular Japanese sports cars out there since its debut 10 years ago.
The last time Honda really updated the S2000 was back in 2004, and it makes you wonder how long the aging model will remain in the lineup. As expected, Honda cites the poor auto market as the reason for these cuts. Sad news, but at least this guarantees the popularity of the current S2000 model for quite a while. Now might be a good time to pick one of those up if you were waiting on the now-dead replacement.
http://speedhunters.com/archive/2009/01/07/news-gt-gt-honda-cuts-more-projects-including-new-s2k.aspx
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090106/FREE/901069977
Honda cancels V8 program, S2000 and CR-Z convertible, report says
By GREG MIGLIORE (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=&category=contact)
http://www.autoweek.com/graphics/zoom1.gif (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090106/FREE/901069977&Show=0&template=zoom&Site=CW&Date=20090106&Category=FREE&ArtNo=901069977&Ref=AR&CRED=Honda) A favorite of enthusiasts, the S2000, appears to be on the chopping block.
Honda
Fun appears to be on the chopping block at Honda. Plans for the successor to the S2000 sports car, a lineup of rear-drive Acuras, a proposed V8 engine and a drop-top built off the CR-Z hybrid are all dead, according to a report in a British magazine.
The reason: Honda is rethinking its product plans as it grapples with the global downturn in sales and economic conditions, Autocar is reporting.
In the United States, Honda’s sales fell 8 percent last year and fell 35 percent in December. Tough times have led to the demise of the NSX supercar program, which would have had a front-mounted V10 and was to be a 2010 model.
Now, Honda also has decided to shelve a rear-drive V8-powered BMW-fighting Acura that was due in 2015, according to Autocar. The V8--long a sticky issue with Honda’s green image--was seen as the wrong powerplant, given the sporadic price of fuel.
The Japanese automaker remains doubled-down on hybrids with a slew of them, including the new Insight due in the spring. Honda also sees diesel power as the best short-term option for larger vehicles.
Damn. Just a few weeks after we reported that Honda had halted developed of the next gen NSX (http://speedhunters.com/archive/2008/12/18/news-gt-gt-next-gen-nsx-cancelled.aspx), there's word that they are scrapping some of their other projects as well. According to an article published on Autoweek.com, Honda is stopping development for the S2000 replacement, the CR-Z sports hybrid, and rear wheel drive luxury sedans that would be powered by a new V8 engine. The toughest news has to be the demise of the S2000 replacement, as it's been one of the most popular Japanese sports cars out there since its debut 10 years ago.
The last time Honda really updated the S2000 was back in 2004, and it makes you wonder how long the aging model will remain in the lineup. As expected, Honda cites the poor auto market as the reason for these cuts. Sad news, but at least this guarantees the popularity of the current S2000 model for quite a while. Now might be a good time to pick one of those up if you were waiting on the now-dead replacement.