Last winter at the '03 Tokyo Auto Salon, Eddie Lee let me in on a secret. Disappointingly, it had nothing to do with a post-op transgender operation, but instead that there was a plan to replicate the very same S2000 that was parked in front of us at the Rays booth. It was a beautifully assembled S2000 with more than just a high-dollar turbo kit; we were also looking at plenty of carbon fiber and the debut of the G-Games 77 Sidewinder wheels. Even though Eddie works at Mackin Industries--the North American importer of such fine products as Rays wheels--he had never built a high-profile car up until that point. I wondered: Could the bastard actually pull it off? It's a good thing bets weren't made; I would have come out a loser.
Even before the actual conception, Mackin Industries had set out to test various products for the S2. Rather than letting the parts go freely after fitment, Eddie went ahead and purchased his own, which meant the goods would be kept for himself. One by one, the ideas started to flow and it was decided that a replication of the Rays car was in order. This required a change in color since it was Silverstone Metallic, so the car was quickly stripped apart and prepped so it could be shot with a few coats of NSX New Formula Red. At this stage of the game, a very special and one-off carbon kit from Weber Sports was shipped over from Japan, replacing the stock body panels. Woven with a deep red blend, the Weber kit not only comes with the bumpers and side skirts, but also a ventilated hood and an exaggerated front lip spoiler. When M1 Autobody finished the paint, you could hardly tell the difference between the Japanese version and Eddie's, except for the lefthand-drive positioning.
Although most S2K owners go the NA route, Eddie felt he could improve upon the F20C's powerband with a bit of boost, so an Ultimate Racing turbo kit was bolted into the engine bay. Ultimate Racing uses a T3/T4 turbo, but modifies it to its own specs and was able to help produce 319 hp on the dyno. Along with the turbo, a GReddy Type S blow-off valve, a GReddy/TiAL wastegate and an ARC intercooler are integrated into the system with boost regulated by a GReddy PRofec e-01 controller. Ultimate also supplies its own set of 600cc injectors, feeding enough fuel to the system for the amount of boost Eddie's pushing. On the exhaust side, the S2K uses another one of Mackin's own, the Gram Lights muffler with its unique downward-facing tip, and for engine dress-up, the valve cover, oil cap, and radiator cooling plate are from ARC. With just over 50 more horses on top of the factory 240 hp, the transmission needed a slight upgrade and saw it with a stronger street clutch from ORC.
Given its lift in power, the S2 had to handle as well. For standard street driving, the OE suspension is hard to beat since it's already stiff and can take turns quicker than a lot of other cars out there. Knowing this, only a set of Espelir Active GT lowering springs was placed onto the stock struts and an ARC titanium strut brace was bolted to the front shock towers. Since the car is being used nationwide as a promotional feature, Rays made sure its new 77 Sidewinder Mono wheels were added to the chassis, both in 18x7.5 and 18x8.5-inch sizes with BFGoodrich's g-Force T/A KDW tires. Behind the spokes of the wheels, you can see the John Holmes-esque Project Racing Hyper Caliper brakes, which use a 13-inch rotor and four-piston, four-pad calipers in addition to the B-Force brake pads and Teflon brake lines.
Pop the top and you won't find anything too out of the ordinary if you look within the driver's compartment. It's all factory minus the dashboard, which houses a custom-fitted Pioneer AVIC N-1 head unit and Defi gauges, while down in the center console are a couple more Defi gauges and the GReddy E-Manage read-out display. The Bride Low Max buckets are fashionable additions, and the trunk comparment makes for a simple housing area for the Competition Soundworks--built audio system, which includes Pioneer amps and speakers, and a NX nitrous bottle.
While Eddie's S2000 isn't the craziest out there, it can stand on its own, thanks to its one-of-a-kind body kit and high-dollar goods. We even dare say it's got the edge on its twin sibling back in the motherland, sans A-hole owner.
We're realists (aren't we the realest? -Fes). Jonny might be able to still kick Eddie's ass, but he'll never own an S2000, let alone a turbocharged version. Don't laugh. You know you're in the same boat. Realizing this travesty, Nads decided to be a sport and give one lucky jabroni a Honda S2000 model made by the mold-making experts at Tamiya. E-mail Chimpy@superstreetonline.com with the correct answer to the question above and it's yours. If you send the wrong answer, we're going to tell Jonny to push you out of the boat.