Earlier in the year, a meeting of engineers and product planners in Japan reportedly considered the idea of a replacement for the S2000 that went out of production way back in 2009. The car they considered would be a mid-engined one to fit between the compact S660 at the bottom and the hybrid NSX supercar at the top. Although details are scarce, a new report suggests that the S2000 successor will be hitting showrooms by 2017.

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Honda S2000 3

Although the new S2000 will be rear-wheel drive and presumably powered by a 2.0-liter motor, there are still going to be a number of differences between it and the original. According to Australia’s Motoring, the engine will be behind the driver, it will be a coupe, and it will have a hybrid powertrain. Styling will also likely be more of a match with the S660 and NSX.

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Honda S2000 4

The motor should make over 350 horsepower, and with the same kind of aluminum and carbon fiber construction as used in the NSX, it could weigh less than 2,900 pounds. Those kind of materials and that kind of performance is a big step above the S2000 we came to know and love over the last decade, but there’s also a corresponding hike in the price. The new S2000 should cost between $60,000 and $70,000, way more than the $35,000 it cost back in 2009.

Honda S2000 2

Three sporty Hondas coming out near the same time is fantastic news, considering we’ve been starved for them since the demise of the original S2000 and NSX, as well as the introduction of the rather disappointing CR-Z. 2017 is a long way off, but this Honda S2000 replacement should very well be worth the wait.

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