These designers nailed the S2000 revival Honda keeps pretending it doesn’t have time for
Update: Following Theophilus Chin’s proposal for a new generation of Honda’s famed roadster, another digital artist, Luca Serafini, whom you may recall from the Neue Klasse BMW Z4 study we recently featured, has shared with us his interpretation of how a modern S2000 might look.
The return of a classic nameplate always stirs the imagination of enthusiasts, and while Honda’s Prelude revival has captured much of the spotlight, though not always for the right reasons, there’s another badge that fans keep hoping for: the S2000.
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Independent designers Luca Serafini and Theophilus Chin have each envisioned how the iconic rear-wheel-drive roadster might translate into today’s design language, both drawing clear inspiration from Honda’s new hybrid coupe.
Starting with Serafini from LS Design, he chose a complete redesign rather than a simple refresh of the older model, yet the result remains unmistakably S2000. The most striking change lies in the modern, aggressive LED headlights, sharper and more defined than the Prelude’s.
The new headlight units sit beneath a long sculpted hood, paired with a more aerodynamic windscreen and clean surfacing across the bodywork. Familiar cues include the five-spoke alloy wheels and the sporty bumper intakes, both reminiscent of the original AP1 rather than the facelifted AP2 that followed.
More: Canceled Honda S2000 Facelift Proposal By Strosek Looks More Like A Second Generation
Serafini explained his vision: “What if the legendary S2000 was reborn today? I imagined how Honda could bring back the spirit of its purest roadster, clean proportions, high revs, and that timeless open-top thrill. A vision that connects heritage with a sharper, modern attitude. Prelude vibes but cleaner and balanced.”
Blending Old Lines with New Tech
Moving to Theottle’s renderings, the proportions stay true to the original formula. A long hood, low stance, soft-top roof, and compact two-seat cabin keep the essence of the early 2000s roadster intact. Yet the design feels new, with reworked body panels based on facelift-era S2000 references.
Up front, the concept borrows its headlights from the Prelude, paired with a slim grille and a larger bumper intake. The profile adopts modern surfacing, flush door handles, and aerodynamic inlets behind the front fenders.
Also: Honda Responds After New Prelude Does 0-62 Slower Than A Base Corolla
As for the 19-inch wheels, these are part of the Prelude’s “Sports Style” package that will be optionally available for the coupe in the Japanese market.
The rear swaps nostalgia for modern cues, with a full-width LED light bar and heavy black trim across the bumper. Admittedly, this part doesn’t look as elegant as the sexy tail of the original, but at least it retains the dual tailpipes in a prominent position.
These exhausts show that this S2000 revival wasn’t envisioned as fully electric. With Honda scaling back EV spending in favor of hybrids, a combustion setup feels like the obvious choice.
What Could Power a Modern S2000?
Well, in keeping with the original formula, fans would almost certainly lean toward a modern interpretation of the high-revving, naturally aspirated setup that included the manic 237 hp 2.0-liter F20C in the AP1 and the larger 237 hp 2.2-liter F22C1 of the AP2, reworked for stronger torque at lower revs while preserving that unmistakable top-end character.
Even two decades on, the F20C still stands its ground against today’s lightweight sports cars, producing more power than the 2026 Toyota GR86’s 228 hp 2.4-liter inline-four, let alone the Mazda MX-5’s puny 181 hp 2.0-liter unit.
Alternatively, Honda could take the turbocharged route, borrowing the 2.0-liter from the Civic Type R, which delivers 325 hp (245 kW / 330 PS). In theory, a hybrid assist could boost performance while trimming emissions, but it would clash with the lightweight, purist ethos that defined the original S2000.
The second-generation Acura NSX already showed what happens when that formula gets complicated.
A bigger hurdle lies beneath the surface. Honda doesn’t currently have a rear-wheel-drive platform suited for a small roadster, which makes competing with cars like the Nissan Z difficult (perhaps even impossible, if you ask the brand’s bean counters).
And while the Prelude’s simulated gear changes may entertain some, they can’t replace the tactile joy of a real six-speed manual paired with a high-revving engine.
Despite the appetite among enthusiasts, the odds of a real S2000 comeback remains slim. Honda’s current strategy includes the launch of 13 new hybrid models by 2030, leaving little room for a low-volume roadster.
Still, independent designers will continue fueling enthusiasts’ imagination with their renderings – at least until Honda gives us something tangible to chase.
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Thanos Pappas, a product design engineer by trade, has been wading through automotive journalism for… Read full bio
