Honda is on a mission
to inject some sportiness back into its brand. We saw the new NSX and Civic Type R at the recentGeneva show, it’s F1 engine supplier comeback is underway and
now it’s added a third, somewhat smaller, performance car to its range. First
shown in concept form at the 2013 Tokyo show, the S660 is a spiritual successor
to the Beat, sold here in the early nineties.
Like the
Beat it features a mid-engined layout, with a 660cc, three-cylinder
turbocharged engine to meet tax laws in its home market of Japan, but there’s a
twist. An inside source told us that the company is also currently working on
an export version, that’s earmarked for the UK, with a more powerful 1.0 litre
turbo, rumoured to pump out more than 127bhp. Now that would give the new Mazda MX-5 a real run for
its money…
As we
arrived at Sodegaura Forest Raceway, 90 minutes southwest of Tokyo, three S660s
sat in the paddock looking almost identical to the 2013 concept car that
spawned them - a rare treat these days. The S660 is the result of an in-house
contest that began four years ago where over 400 young engineers submitted
ideas for new vehicles to company bosses, and the S660 design came out on top.
Honda has developed a one-off
mid-engine, rear-wheel drive chassis just for the S660 constructed out of an
aluminium and steel sub-frame that’s stiffer than the old S2000. The Japan-spec S660 might be fitted with an
uninspiring 63bhp engine, but we’re told this chassis could take more than
twice that power. You can feel the rigidity, too, in high-speed corners or
under full braking.
Tipping the scales at just 830kg, the S660 employs the same
three-cylinder, 660cc turbocharged engine found in the popular N-Box kei-car.
However, to improve throttle response, engineers have revised the turbo
geometry to produce quicker off the mark acceleration and stronger mid-range
torque.
To lift
the overall performance of the engine, the redline is raised from 7,000rpm to
7,700rpm, while a deeper oil pan helps to cope with the higher G-forces during
cornering and braking. The turbo spools up at around 2,500rpm and delivers a
healthy dose of torque right up to the redline. It’s between 5,000 and 7,700
rpm that the engine really comes to life, though, letting out a high-pitched
metallic raspy roar that betrays the engine’s tiny capacity.
Following in the footsteps of the S2000’s legendary gearbox
and shifter, the S660 incorporates a notchy transmission with delightfully
short throws and just the right amount of synchro in all gears. It has
well-positioned pedals, a light clutch and the gear ratios are superbly matched
to the engine.
We realize
that there is not a lot of power on tap, but even when pushed into a corner at
60mph, the rear end just does not budge. Honda’s ‘Agile Handling Assist’ system
regulates brake pressure to the inside front wheel to enhance cornering, and to
complete the package, specially developed 15-inch Yokohama Advan Neova tyres
provide traction levels previously unheard of in kei-car handling.
The downside of all that grips, and the fact that the
traction control can’t be switched off, is there’s no oversteer to play around
with. But there’s no understeer either, just solid, dependable handling.
There’s just enough weight in the steering, sufficient feedback and a crisp
turn-in. And yes, even a six foot two inch journalist can sit fully inside the
cockpit and change gears without smashing his knees on the steering wheel. Only
just, mind you.
Inside,
the cabin is tight, but comfortable. The extra-small 350mm diameter steering
wheel fits nicely in the palms and the stick shift is exactly where it should
be. Seats sit low in the frame, trim levels and interior materials are
plasticky yet passable, and the large centrally-located tachometer sets the
tone, while the dash-mounted display offers drivers the option of a game-like
G-meter that gives cornering and braking Gs in real time.
Perhaps
our only question marks are the lack of raw power and fiddly soft-top roof,
which must be manually folded away and placed in the tiny boot. But other than
that, the S660 takes the kei-car genre to new heights. Considering Europe’s
ever-more-crowded roads, it’s a game-changer and one we’re praying makes it to
the UK with that gutsier 1.0-litre powerplant.
Key specs
• Price:
1,980,000 yen (£11,130)
• Engine:
660cc three-cylinder turbo
• Power:
63bhp
• Transmission:
Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
• Economy/CO2:
n/a
• On sale:
2016 (est)
