2013 Tokyo Motor Show: Honda S660 Roadster Revealed, May Get Turbo One Liter Three For Export

TTAC Staff
by TTAC Staff

Seen as a successor to the early ’90s Honda Beat kei car, the new S660 roadster, which will go into production in 2014, was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show. The midengined car, as the nomenclature indicates, is powered by a 660cc three cylinder turbocharged engine driving through a seven speed paddle shifted transmission. While kei cars are meant specifically for the Japanese domestic market, there is a possibility that it might be sold, with modifications in other countries. Honda senior designer Ryo Sugiura, when asked about selling the little roadster outside of Japan, said, “I cannot tell you if it will or will not. It’s a secret. The car would certainly need some re-engineering.”

While 660 cubic centimeters is probably too small for even Europe, let alone the United States, the engine is thought to be tuned relatively mildly, creating the possibility of higher performance versions for export markets. Also, it’s rumored that the engine bay of the S660 is large enough to take the 105 hp 1 liter turbo three that will power the next generation Honda Jazz/Fit.

Sugiura said that the production version will be almost identical to the concept.

TTAC Staff
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  • Zane Wylder Zane Wylder on Nov 20, 2013

    If it comes here and is available with manual, I'll find a way to get one Just wonder if a B-series could fit in the back

  • George Herbert George Herbert on Nov 22, 2013

    Request - We need a Creative Commons licensed image of the S660 for Wikipedia. If anyone has the photographers' contact information and can point me at them, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

  • ToolGuy Why would they change the grille?
  • Oberkanone Nissan proved it can skillfully put new frosting on an old cake with Frontier and Z. Yet, Nissan dealers are so broken they are not good at selling the Frontier. Z production is so minimal I've yet to see one. Could Nissan boost sales? Sure. I've heard Nissan plans to regain share at the low end of the market. Kicks, Versa and lower priced trims of their mainstream SUV's. I just don't see dealerships being motivated to support this effort. Nissan is just about as exciting and compelling as a CVT.
  • ToolGuy Anyone who knows, is this the (preliminary) work of the Ford Skunk Works?
  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X I will drive my Frontier into the ground, but for a daily, I'd go with a perfectly fine Versa SR or Mazda3.
  • Zerofoo The green arguments for EVs here are interesting...lithium, cobalt and nickel mines are some of the most polluting things on this planet - even more so when they are operated in 3rd world countries.
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