What does the S stand for in Honda S2000?
The S in Honda S2000 is widely understood to signify Sport or Sports, and the 2000 denotes its 2.0-liter engine. Honda has not issued an official, explicit explanation for the letter.
The S2000 arrived in 1999 as a purpose-built, two-seat roadster designed for high revs and precise handling. It used a high-revving 2.0-liter inline-four (the F20C) and remained in production through 2009, existing in two generations known as AP1 and AP2. The name pairs the S with 2000 to emphasize its sporting focus and engine size.
Naming and meaning
While fans have proposed several theories, Honda has not published a definitive breakdown of the letters in S2000. The most common interpretation is that the 'S' stands for Sport or Sports, with '2000' signaling the 2.0-liter engine.
There are several interpretations that have circulated among enthusiasts, though Honda has not officially confirmed the meaning. Below are the most widely discussed possibilities:
- Sport or Sports: the primary reading tied to the car’s performance character.
- 2.0-liter displacement: the 2000 portion is widely understood to refer to the engine’s size (approximately 2.0 liters or 1997 cc).
- Other speculative ideas: some observers have floated Street or marketing-related interpretations, but these lack official confirmation.
In practice, the most-supported reading is that S stands for Sport/Sports, with 2000 pointing to the engine displacement; Honda has not issued a formal verbatim explanation.
Generations and key details
AP1 (1999–2003)
The first generation, AP1, introduced in 1999, was a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive roadster with a high-revving 2.0-liter engine designed for keen handling and driver involvement. It featured a 6-speed manual transmission and a high redline around 9,000 rpm, delivering strong on-paper performance for its time.
AP2 (2004–2009)
The second generation, AP2, arrived in 2004 with styling updates, revised suspension tuning, and interior refinements while retaining the 2.0-liter powertrain. The AP2 kept the S2000’s characteristic rev-happy nature and driver-first focus, with production ending in 2009 as Honda phased other sports cars and platforms.
Summary
The S in S2000 most commonly stands for Sport or Sports, and the 2000 points to the 2.0-liter engine. Honda has not issued an official, explicit explanation of the letter, but the interpretation remains widely accepted among enthusiasts and historians of the model.
