The S660 Kei-roadster has gone on sale in Japan

The S660 Kei-roadster has gone on sale in Japan. The Honda S660 is a two-seat sports car which fits in the very small Kei car category. It is manufactured by the Japanese manufacturer Honda. The car weighs approx 830kg with manual transmission and 850kg with CVT auto. A prototype was shown at the November 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, the major Japanese auto show event. It is the successor to the Honda Beat. The naming convention of using the letter "S" followed by the engine displacement is a long held Honda tradition going back to Honda's first production car, the Honda S500

Honda S660 Commercial model front view (Japan)

Overview

Manufacturer     Honda
Production     2015
Assembly     Yachiyo Plant, Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan

Body and chassis

Class     Kei car
Body style     2-door roadster
Layout     Transverse mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Related     Honda N-One
Honda N-Box

Powertrain

Engine     660 cc (40 cu in) S07A I3
Transmission     6-speed manual transmission
CVT

Dimensions

Wheelbase     2,285 mm (90.0 in)
Length     3,395 mm (133.7 in)
Width     1,475 mm (58.1 in)
Height     1,180 mm (46 in)
Curb weight     830–850 kg (1,830–1,870 lb)

Chronology

Predecessor     Honda Beat

A spiritual successor to the Honda S600 and the Pininfarina-designed Honda Beat, the S660 Kei-roadster has gone on sale in Japan. The petite model was previewed by a funky-looking concept car at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, so reaching mass-production status in under two years is probably a first, even for Honda.

Even though it has a retractable roof, which normally adds weight, the tiny mid-engine roadster is part of the Kei car category in Japan, weighing less than 2,000 pounds and measuring under 11.2 feet in length. Being part of that special category also means that the 660cc engine has its displacement restricted to that figure by law, but unconfirmed reports suggest that a hotter model sold outside Japan may benefit from a turbocharged, 1.0-liter engine, with its handling developed in cooperation with Mugen.

From Show Floor to Track Paddock

As we arrived at Sodegaura Forest Raceway, 90 minutes southeast of Tokyo, three S660s sat in the paddock. They looked almost identical to the 2013 concept car that spawned the new model. The S660 is the result of an in-house contest that began four years ago, wherein more than 400 young engineers submitted ideas for new vehicles to company bosses, and the S660 design came out on top.

Honda has developed a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive chassis just for the S660, which uses an aluminum-and-steel structure that’s stiffer than the old S2000’s. The Japan-spec S660 might be fitted with an uninspiring 63-hp engine, but we’re told this chassis could take a lot more power—hence the 125-hp version. You can feel the rigidity, too, in high-speed corners and under heavy braking

Small Car, Small Engine

Tipping the scales at just 1830 pounds (according to Honda), the S660 employs the same three-cylinder 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-line acceleration and stronger midrange torque.

To lift the overall performance of the engine, the redline is raised from 7000 rpm to 7700 rpm, while a deeper oil pan helps to cope with the higher g-forces during cornering and braking. The turbo spools up at about 2500 rpm and delivers a healthy dose of torque all the way to redline. It’s between 5000 and 7700 rpm that the engine really comes to life, though, letting out a high-pitched and metallic raspy roar that belies its tiny displacement.

Like the S2000’s legendary gearbox and shifter, the S660 features a positive-feeling, six-speed manual transmission with delightfully short throws and gear ratios that are superbly matched to the engine. It also has well-positioned pedals and a light clutch.

Granted, there’s not a lot of power on tap, but even when flung into a corner at 60 mph, it’s difficult to get the planted rear end to budge. Honda’s “Agile Handling Assist” system can brake an inside front wheel to enhance turn-in and cornering stability, while specially developed 16-inch Yokohama Advan Neova tires provide traction levels previously unheard of in kei cars.