The long-lived Honda S2000 will be no more from next year, according to reports. The car was introduced in 1999 and although not to everyone's tastes it has won over the hearts of many road testers.
Sadly a replacement for the high-revving two-seater sports car is in doubt as carmakers are scaling back on their niche products.
The S2000 is a sports car designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. It raised the bar for all future roadsters, and it's already considered a classic by many Honda fans.
The S2000 was only supposed to be a limited edition to mark Honda's birthday but survived for ten years. An estimated 110,000 S2000s have been sold worldwide and production is due to end in June 2009. Fingers crossed for a special run-out model
Trim packages for the Nissan 370Z have been announced, bringing a limited but well-spec'd and competitively priced range into the difficult sports coupe sector.
The entry level model comes in at £26895, which is pricier than an RX8 or entry-level TT, but is generously equipped with climate control, electric seats, bluetooth connectivity, 18" wheels and xenon lights. In the TT, you're lucky not to be charged extra for a steering wheel.
The 'GT Pack' adds a hefty £3300 premium to the Z car, but adds bigger 19" RAYS designed wheels, suede and leather upholstery and a Bose stereo system - as well as the much-talked -about 'Synchro Rev Control', which does the job of double de-clutching automatically for smoother changes. Metallic paint will cost an extra £450.
But should a customer still feel the aching burn of more cash in their pockets, a range topping 'GT Ultimate' spec comes in at £31,895, bringing better leather and a DVD satnav into the mix.
Even in this top trim, the 370Z still undercuts the Porsche Cayman by over £4000 - and with 0-60 known to be under 5 seconds, its notably quicker too. Interesting stuff...
Orders for the new car will be taken from 2 February, with deliveries from July onwards.
