What engine designation is Honda S2000?
The engine designation for the Honda S2000 is F20C.
The S2000, a two-seat roadster built from 1999 to 2009, earned a reputation for its high-revving, naturally aspirated powerplant. At the heart of that persona is Honda’s F20C engine code, a 2.0-liter inline-four with i-VTEC that helped define the car’s performance character and driving experience.
Engine designation and overview
The term "F20C" is Honda’s internal code for the powerplant that powered the S2000. It sits in Honda’s late-1990s F-series of four-cylinder, DOHC engines and was tuned specifically for the S2000’s high-revving, dedicated sport mindset.
What the F20C code represents
In Honda’s naming scheme, the "F" denotes a four-cylinder, DOHC architecture within the F-series. The "20" roughly signals the 2.0-liter displacement, while the "C" identifies the specific S2000 variation tuned for peak high-rpm performance and the car’s distinctive VTEC operation.
Key specifications at a glance
The following highlights summarize the engine’s core attributes and performance characteristics.
- Displacement: 2.0 liters (approximately 1,997 cc)
- Configuration: Inline-4 DOHC with i-VTEC
- Redline: 9,000 rpm
- Power output: around 240 horsepower (varies by market and model year)
- Torque: roughly 153 lb-ft (208 Nm)
- Induction: Naturally aspirated; paired with a 6-speed manual transmission
The S2000’s F20C is celebrated for its willingness to rev, its distinctive VTEC surge, and its purity of driving feel—traits that have helped sustain the model’s enthusiast appeal long after production ended.
Generational differences and how the designation held up
Two generations of the S2000 were produced between 1999 and 2009. Throughout both generations, the engine code remained F20C, though Honda implemented refinements to intake, exhaust, and engine calibrations to optimize performance and emissions for later revisions.
AP1 vs AP2: engine and performance notes
AP1 (1999–2003) featured the early version of the F20C, lauded for its high-rev capability and 9,000 rpm redline. AP2 (2004–2009) retained the F20C designation but benefited from refinements aimed at improving low- to mid-range torque, throttle response, and emissions compliance, with market-dependent variations in power output.
In short, while the engine code remained the same, the S2000’s driving character evolved through the model’s lifecycle thanks to targeted revisions that refined daily usability without sacrificing its signature high-rev personality.
Summary
The Honda S2000’s engine designation is F20C, a 2.0-liter inline-four DOHC i-VTEC engine that powered a lightweight, high-revving roadster across two generations. Its enduring reputation stems from the engine’s balance of responsiveness, audibility, and purity of driving experience, making the F20C a landmark in Honda’s performance engineering.
