will acura build any convertibles?

[tennis32828]

Hi, i have a 99tl and itching to trade in for a convertible. I like the ones from BMW and Audis, but I really want to continue to buy Honda's though. Does anyone know or think if Acura will build a convertible? I know there is the S2000, but was hoping for a V-6 and a little more luxury oriented. thanks

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[jaje]

i doubt acura has any plans for an actual convertible...though there is the s2000 which is kinda a bare bones rag top...there's also the nsx-t which is not necessarily a convertible but has an open top

[DVPGSR]

If anything I would expect Acura to come out with a convertible like Lexus did...but there are more important things for Acura to worry about right now than a convertible...such as the next RL.

[yianni64]

Back in the day, they were thinking of marketing the S2000 as a Acura. Gladly, they didnt. But Acura could have very well made/make their own model. If they did, id think we would see a 6 cylinder and other luxury ish. Maybe power folding hardtop.

[LuckyDog]

Honda is committed to FWD, and FWD vehicles don't make the ebst convertibles. It is possible to have a good FWD vehicle, just it would require more reinforcing, making the vehicle heavier (hence the reason convertibles are heavier than their coupe counterparts).

[Troopa-R]

Originally posted by yianni64
Back in the day, they were thinking of marketing the S2000 as a Acura. Gladly, they did. But Acura could have very well made/make their own model. If they did, id think we would see a 6 cylinder and other luxury ish. Maybe power folding hardtop.

I guess you mean Glad they didn't.

But yeah. That's EXACTLY why the S2K shouldn't be an Acura. Like the Nissan Z, the S2K is a car with a history, and that history is part of the Honda brand. that and the luxury stuff.

[yianni64]

Originally posted by Eternal RSXness


I guess you mean Glad they didn't.

But yeah. That's EXACTLY why the S2K shouldn't be an Acura. Like the Nissan Z, the S2K is a car with a history, and that history is part of the Honda brand. that and the luxury stuff.

I think you miss quoted me

A Coupe version of the S200 would have been nice. Lighter and cheaper, sounds good to me. Not to mention safer

[AcuraFanatic]

Why is there a last edited by yianna message on the bottom of your post?

I agree with what everbody has stated. Maybe in the future, but not anytime soon.

[zishan]

Originally posted by Eternal RSXness


I guess you mean Glad they didn't.

But yeah. That's EXACTLY why the S2K shouldn't be an Acura. Like the Nissan Z, the S2K is a car with a history, and that history is part of the Honda brand. that and the luxury stuff.

The s2000 has historty? really? I should like to know more about that. I thought it was a new car. Can you please give me a history lesson. Id love to know where the s2000 gets it roots (aside from motorcycles).

[kazi]

Originally posted by zishan


The s2000 has historty? really? I should like to know more about that. I thought it was a new car. Can you please give me a history lesson. Id love to know where the s2000 gets it roots (aside from motorcycles).

A lot of cut and pasting from Honda Beat:


X190
This gave way in 1960 to the X 190 test automobile, a 2 seat convertible sports car with a flat-four engine, rear wheel drive, a conventional live rear axle with leaf springs, and a fiberglass body.


S360
These were the predecessors to Honda’s first true production-ready, prototype auto, the Sports 360, which made its public debut at the 1962 Tokyo Motor Show. Powered by an all new, DOHC, water-cooled, in-line 4 cylinder engine with four carburetors, it produced 33 horsepower from 356cc at an unheard of 9,000 rpm. The car also featured a steel body, a five speed manual transmission, and for an automobile, a very unusual chain final drive utilizing aluminum swing arms which served double duty as chain cases, and also acted as trailing arms for independent rear suspension.


S500
The S500 followed the T360 into production in October of 1963, earning itself the title of the first production Honda car. Initially introduced with a 492cc engine, the specifications read like those from a Formula 1 race car; double overhead camshafts, four carburetors, a needle roller bearing crankshaft, and a 9,500 rpm redline. The car produced 44 horsepower at 8,000 rpm from its later, production displacement of 531cc, weighed approximately 1,500 pounds, and could achieve a top speed of 80 miles per hour. A four speed transmission (with synchromesh on the top three gears) was utilized. Final drive was by oil bath chains to the rear wheels. Four wheel independent suspension was achieved using torsion bars in the front, and diagonally attaching coil-over-shock strut units to the rear of each chain case. Brand new, it sold for the equivalent of $1,275. A fiberglass hardtop was offered as an optional accessory. There were 1,363 S500s produced between October 1963 and September 1964 (136 in 1963, and 1,227 in 1964), when it was supplanted by the larger-engined S600.


S800
The S800 was introduced to the world in 1966. For this displacement increase, there would be some significant styling changes to both the front and rear of the car, while again being available in either roadster or coupe form.
The displacement was increased to 791cc which resulted in 70 hp at 8000 rpm. The S800 reached 100 mph and still boasted 35 mpg. The first 752 convertibles and 242 coupes continued the chain rear drive and independent rear suspension of its predecessors. For the next 604 roadsters and 69 coupes, Honda replaced the rear chain / suspension configuration with a more conventional live rear axle located by four radius rods and a panhard rod, while retaining four wheel drum brakes. Thereafter, front disk brakes replaced the four-wheel drum setup, while continuing the live rear axle for the remainder of the production run.

The next significant change came in 1968 with the introduction of the S800M version. Aimed at the American market, Honda made changes to include flush door handles, side marker lights, dual circuit brakes, varied taillight configurations to suit different markets, safety glass, leaner carburetion, and more. (They went so far as to show a "USA Model" in the parts catalogues and owner's manuals, but no S800s, or for that matter any S series cars, were ever officially imported into the US for retail distribution.)

All the changes were in vain, however, as the high revving engine produced too many hydrocarbons. New safety and emissions regulations were being introduced and the S800 did not measure up. Without the support of the American market, Honda ceased production of the S800 in May 1970.

A total of 11,536 S800s were produced between 1966 and 1970.

[yianni64]

Thanks kazi. Chris (02RSXTYPES) told me about a book called Honda S2000, and it was about the car and its history. I ordered it and it should be on its way.

But if its gone from S500 to S2000, whats stopping an S3000? muahahahaha

[jaje]

yeah...honda's 1st cars were 2 seater convertible sports cars...mostly based off motorcycle technology (chain drive)

i bought a book call Honda: Portrait of an International Brand...it tells you all about Soroichiro Honda and his life's work...he believed in racing as the way to improve his products and that's why honda races so often (where it can afford to...honda quit f1 b/c of cash shortages even though it completely dominated the sport for 5 years)...it also tells about how the company does not make excuses but finds a way to do the impossible through technology (cvcc, vtec, etc)...it also tells how mr. honda's demand that all board of directors of his company must always hold a degree of engineering b/c they filter out the crap and usually have a conscious compared to those with only finance and sales backgrounds

[Dave C]

If you really crave a convertible Acura go to www.FullEFX.com and check his Legend convertible conversion. I don't care for the widebody treatment, but the top chop is nice. He does add a subframe to reinforce the chassis.

[yianni64]

Originally posted by Dave C
If you really crave a convertible Acura go to www.FullEFX.com and check his Legend convertible conversion. I don't care for the widebody treatment, but the top chop is nice. He does add a subframe to reinforce the chassis.

Uh, i cant seem to find that on that site.

[98CoupeV6]

Originally posted by yianni64
Thanks kazi. Chris (02RSXTYPES) told me about a book called Honda S2000, and it was about the car and its history. I ordered it and it should be on its way.

But if its gone from S500 to S2000, whats stopping an S3000? muahahahaha

Yianni you finally got that book, huh? An excellent read, read it from cover to cover without looking up. The first car Honda ever made was a RWD roadster, think about that for a minute.

[yianni64]

Originally posted by 02RSXTYPES


Yianni you finally got that book, huh? An excellent read, read it from cover to cover without looking up. The first car Honda ever made was a RWD roadster, think about that for a minute.

I ordered it 3 weeks ago, and theyve yet to get it in.

[AcuraFanatic]

Originally posted by 02RSXTYPES


Yianni you finally got that book, huh? An excellent read, read it from cover to cover without looking up. The first car Honda ever made was a RWD roadster, think about that for a minute.

You're back.

(I'm observant in case you missed it).

[98CoupeV6]

Originally posted by AcuraFanatic


You're back.

(I'm observant in case you missed it).

Yes, but I'll be leaving again tommorrow night...going down south to some beaches and **** with some friends and my girl.