Honda is on a mission to get sporty groove back. We've already seen the new Acura NSX; Civic Type R was revealed at the Geneva auto show recently; company comeback Formula 1 as an engine supplier in progress; and now Honda has been added, a little smaller, a new performance car to reach. First shown in concept form at the 2013 Tokyo show, the S660 is the spiritual successor to the small roadster Beating the early 1990s.
Like the Beat, the S660 has a mid-engine layout with turbo 660-cc, three-cylinder that makes it the parameters kei car (subcompact special class of ultrasmall) in the Japanese domestic market. Sure, it looks cool, but why Americans should care? Well, as we reported in January, a source from within told us that the company is also engaged in the export version with more powerful, 1.0-liter turbo is rumored to pump out more than 125 horsepower-and that was destined for the United States. That's reason enough to take this small Funster to spin.
From the Show Floor for Paddock Track - When we arrived at the Sodegaura Forest Raceway, 90 minutes southeast of Tokyo, three S660s sitting in the paddock. They look almost identical to the 2013 concept car that spawned a new model. The S660 is the result of the contest in the house that began four years ago, where more than 400 young engineers put forward an idea for a new vehicle for the company's boss, and the design of the S660 came out on top.
Honda has developed a mid-engine, chassis, rear-wheel-drive only for the S660, which uses aluminum and steel structure that is stiffer than the old S2000 is. Japan-spec S660 may be equipped with a 63-hp engine boring, but we were told this chassis can take more power-the 125-hp version. You can feel the stiffness, also, in the high speed corners and under heavy braking.
Small car, Small Engine - Tipping the scales at just £ 1,830 (according to Honda), the S660 employs the same three-cylinder turbocharged engine found in the N-Box kei car popular. However, to improve throttle response, engineers have revised geometry turbo to produce quicker acceleration off-the-line and more powerful midrange torque.
To lift the overall performance of the machine, the redline is increased from 7000 rpm to 7700 rpm, while the oil pan more help to cope with the high g-forces when cornering and braking. Turbo rolls around 2500 rpm and provide a healthy dose of torque all the way to redline. Between 5000 and 7700 rpm that the engine really comes to life, though, let out a high-pitched raspy roar and metal that belies the small displacement.
Like the legendary S2000 gearbox and shifter, the S660 has a positive-feeling, a six-speed manual transmission with short-throw ratio fun and exceptional equipment suitable for the machine. He also has a good pedal position and light clutch.
Indeed, there is not much power on tap, but even when thrown into a corner at 60 mph, it is difficult to get the rear planted to budge. Honda "Agile Handling Assist" system can brake a front wheel in to improve turn-in and cornering stability, while a specially developed 16-inch Yokohama Advan Neova tires provide traction levels previously unheard of in the kei car.
All of the grip and the fact that the traction control can not be switched off means no oversteer to play around with. But no understeer, well, just neutrality in-the-limit which is pretty rare these days. The steering is achieved through the extrasmall, 13.8 inch wheels-it heavy enough to feel great, offers crisp response, and provide proper feedback on what the front tires are doing.
Tight but comfortable cabins. A six-foot-two-inch driver could get behind the wheel and change gears without destroying knees against the steering wheel-only, mind you. Large, centrally located tachometer sets the tone sporty, while the dash-mounted screen offers the driver the option to g-meter that displays a lateral force and a slowdown in real time.
Our only issue with the Honda S660 is the lack of direct and fiddly softtop roof, which must be deconstructed and placed in a small luggage manually. But other than that, the S660 takes the genre kei-cars-new heights we only hope Honda can bring it to our shores.
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