# The Story Behind Honda: A Passion for Innovation and Adventure
Honda is one of the largest automakers in the world, but its journey began with a humble mechanic who spent his youth fixing bicycles at his father's shop.
### Early Days of Soichiro Honda
Soichiro Honda fell deeply in love with all things mechanical. One day, while walking home from school, he saw a Ford Model T that would change his life and the entire car industry forever. He had to know how it worked and soon did, dropping out of grade school and moving out on his own to apprentice at a mechanic shop.
### Becoming a Well-Renowned Mechanic
As an inquisitive child, Soichiro Honda was determined to learn everything about cars. And soon, he was a well-renowned mechanic with his own repair shop. Here, he would build custom race cars and motorcycles in his spare time, dreaming of the day when he could build his own vehicle.
### The Second World War and Its Impact
The Second World War would delay these dreams of building his own vehicle becoming a reality as Soichiro Honda began producing parts for the war effort. Unfortunately, this also led to challenges - his workshop got bombed by the Allies, and smashed by an earthquake. Once that happened, he decided to sell the rubble for scrap, buy a water tank, and make some whiskey.
### The Birth of Honda Motor Company
In 1949, Honda would make history by founding his namesake company, Honda Motor Company, with the introduction of several small motorbikes. This marked a significant milestone in the company's journey towards becoming one of the largest automakers in the world.
# The Honda S2000: A Return to Fun
But before we get up to speed on the Honda S2000, let's take a moment to appreciate the car that inspired it - the rear wheel drive car from the company who perfected front-wheel drive. This was a return to the roots that showed the world Honda can still have fun.
The McPizza, and my old man didn't stick around for long. Leaving us before we could appreciate what we really had.
## The Ford Model T: A Life-Changing Moment
Little Honda was walking home from school when he saw something that would change his life - a Ford Model T. He had to know how it worked, and soon he did. One day in the future, I was in grade school, dropped outand started learninghow to yell at cars about cars.
## Building Custom Race Cars
Here he would build custom race cars and motorcycles in his spare time, dreaming of the day when he could build his own vehicle. And soon, he was a well-renowned mechanic with his own repair shop.
## The Honda Name: From Mechanic Shop to Automaker
Honda is now one of the largest automakers in the world, but it all started with Soichiro Honda and his passion for innovation and adventure. Today, we'll explore everything you need to know to get up to speed on the Honda S2000.
### Gaming Music and Fire Crackling
Today, Honda's the name of one of thelargest automakers in the world.But in the 1920's, it was justthe name of some mechanic.Soichiro Honda spent his youthfixing bicycles at his father's shop.Falling in love withall things mechanical.One day, little Honda was walking homeand he saw something thatwould change his lifeand the entire car industry forever.Bouncing down the road,came a Ford Model T.Honda had to know how it workedand soon he did what anyinquisitive child does.He dropped out of grade schooland moved out on his ownto apprentice at a mechanic shop.
### The Birth of Honda Motor Company and World War
In 1949, Honda would make history byfounding his namesakecompany Honda Motor Companywith the introduction of anumber of small motorbikes.-Fast Forward to 1955.- Japan is starting torecover from the war.The government is has put out a directivefor what they call a "car for the people".And that's exactly what the Honda car was meant to be.
WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en(car engine)- Long face, no top, andan exhaust note that drivesfear into the hearts ofeven the bravest men.(car engine and yelling)It was a rear wheel drivecar from the companywho perfected front-wheel drive.A return to the rootsthat showed the worldHonda can still have fun.And just like a Summer fling,the McPizza, and my old manit didn't stick around for long.Leaving us before we couldappreciate what we really had.This is everything you need to knowto get up to speed on the Honda S2000.(fire crackling and music tone)(gaming music)Today, Honda's the name of one of thelargest automakers in the world.But in the 1920's, it was justthe name of some mechanic.Soichiro Honda spent his youthfixing bicycles at his father's shop.Falling in love withall things mechanical.One day, little Honda was walking homeand he saw something thatwould change his lifeand the entire car industry forever.Bouncing down the road,came a Ford Model T.Honda had to know how it workedand soon he did what anyinquisitive child does.He dropped out of grade schooland moved out on his ownto apprentice at a mechanic shop.When I was in grade school I dropped outand started learninghow to yell at cars about cars.(musical chimes)And soon, he was a well-renowned mechanicwith his own repair shop.Here he would build custom race carsand motorcycles in his spare time,dreaming of the day when hecould build his own vehicle.The Second World Warwould delay these dreamsbecoming a reality as Soichirobegan producing parts for the war effort.That is, until his workshop got bombedby the Allies and smashed by a earthquake.Once that happened, he decidedto sell the rubble for scrap,buy a water tank, and make some whiskey.This dude is awesome.That really happened.Google it.In 1949, Honda would make history byfounding his namesakecompany Honda Motor Companywith the introduction of anumber of small motorbikes.-Fast Forward to 1955.- Japan is starting torecover from the war.The government is has put out a directivefor what they call a "people's car."Four seats, cheap price,and easy production.- That was easy.- Honda hired 50 engineers and got to workbuilding a car suitable to bear his name.Despite being beat to the marketby rivals Suzuki and Subaru,Honda and his engineers kept on workingbefore finally revealingthe fruits of their laborat the National Honda MeetingGeneral Assembly in 1962.These cars were calledthe S360, S500, and T360.Honda, who was told to produce afamily friendly four-seater that canprotect passengers fromthe weather comes back withtwo convertible sportscars and a minitruck.Boss!- Boss?- Well today, Honda has a reputationfor making wrong-wheel drive cars.The company actually beganwith rear-wheel driveConvertible Sports Cars.(car engine)Basically, the Honda S500 was a four-wheeltandem seat motorcycle.The engine was small and had individuallycarburetted cylinderswith a 9,500 RPM redline.It was a screamer.(car engine revving)It even used a chain-drive contraptionto give power to the rear wheels.This tiny rear-drive roadster waseverything Honda loved about cars.It was mechanical, it wasinteresting, and it was fun.By 1970, the S500's engine had grownand the car was now the S800.As Mr. Honda became older,he started stepping backfrom the operations of his company.As other businessleaders besides Mr. Hondagained more influence in the company,the focus began to shiftmore and more towardsfuel efficient family-friendly vehicles.For the next 30 years it would seem thatHonda had forgotten its rootsand the S line of roadsterswas dead and gone.Until one day, in 1995 a bright unexpectedlight appeared on the horizon.And no, I'm not talking about theday that Post Malone was born.It was the 1995 Tokyo Motor Showand Honda dropped a bombon the entire auto industrywith their Honda Sport Study model.It was sleek, stylish, and mostimportantly it was topless.This study was lead byDaisuke Sawai and showed fansthat Honda maybe hadn't forgottenthe spirit of their founder.The concept featured a drop-top bodypowered by a two liter,five cylinder, V-TEC engine.(yelling)This car would proceed to teasefans for the next four yearsuntil the 1999 Honda finallyreleased their next S car.Nearly 30 years after the last one,the S2000 was born.(car engine revving)Released in Japan for the 1999 model yearand the rest of theworld the following year,The S2K was truly a returnto form for the companyThe 2 liter engine, whichgave the S2000 its name.This engine, dubbed theF20C, is absolutely filledwith headline-grabbingtechnology including:aluminum block,forged aluminum pistons,Dual-OverHead Cam,V-TEC ...(yelling)A timing chain rather than a belt,fiber-reinforced metal cylinder liners,molybdenum piston skirtsfor reduced friction.Look out Dad, cause baby's got molybdenum.All of which result in a meanpiston speed of 81 feet a second.That's fast!- So ...Fast...- All those big words meanthat the Honda S2000 makes234 horsepower out of a 2 liter engineor 247 horsepower if you live in Japan,where they get slightlyhigher compression ratios.These power numbers are achievedway up in the rev range at 8,300 RPMwith the redline sitting at 9,000 RPM.Power is sent through a 6-Speed Manualto the rear wheels wherean LSD came standard.This put the F20C at around125 horsepower per liter,which means it had thehighest output of anymass production naturally aspirated engineuntil it was beaten bythe Ferrari 458 it 2010.The S2000 landed during the perfect timeto launch such a boldnod to their heritage.Not only were they ableto capitalize off theirrecent CART and Formula 1 experience.Accessible Honda performancewas seeing a renaissanceon public roads through thelaunch of their NSX Supercarand the arrival of the titebarnameplate on American shorts.Integritite bar, you ever heard of it?Check out this video.Oh, what a time to be alive.Except there was oneproblem, Americans per-us.The S2K focused on making its power byreducing internal engine frictionallowing faster enginespeeds and higher redlines.This meant the S2K made all of its powerway, way, way at the top.V-TEC didn't even kickin until 6,000 RPM yo.(yelling)To get the most out of the S2000,drivers really had towork the transmissionbuilding and keeping engine speed high.Americans were used to big carswith large torque powerhouses.They didn't react well to the S2000with its high-strung F20C.Hoping to change these reactions,Honda face-lifted the S2000five years into its production run,launching the updated S2000 in 2004.Since the first Hondawas known as the AP1,this one was logically named the AP2.The biggest difference betweenthe two models is the engine.The AP2... got an updated... F22C1.Just like the Honda Sroadsters of the 60'sthis updated engine waslarger, stroked at 2.2 liters.The new motor was purely aresponse to the American marketand their distaste ofthe high-revving F20C.The F22C1 produced a bit more torque,had a bit lower redline at 8,200 RPM,but had just as much character as before.Luckily for us, not only canHonda build a wonderful engine,they can also build apretty rad car to put it in.With a long hood, clean lines,and a road-hugging appearancethe S2000 is a beautiful car.Something important toany successful sports car.Even more importantly to a sports car,the structure of theS2K is incredibly strongdue to an X-bone frame which supportsthe engine and transmissionand everything else important.These good looks, Grade-Achassis, and amazing engineall quickly put the S2K on theradar of many car enthusiasts.Many people were introduced to the S2000and the idea of a fast Honda inThe Fast and The Furiouswhen Jesse got smashedby Johnny Tran's $100,000 S2K.Too soon, Junior.As production neared the 10-year markHonda knew the S2000 wasnot longed for this world.They decided the bestway to send the car offwas to release a fewspecial edition models.The most focused and hardcore versionwas actually reservedfor the American market.What?We got a cooler carthan Japan did for once?What the ...This model, called the Club Racer, or CRwas Honda's nod to the enthusiasm shownby American drivers for the car.The CR included track-revisingexhaust and suspension systemsas well as CR specificwheels and wider tires.On top of these added parts,Honda stripped the CRof any weight it could.This included making theradio and a see optionalas well as deleting the folding roof.And the roof storage spacewas filled with an X-sprayand a sweet hard top was included.Well the CR is covered in special editionvisual only mods like faux carbon fiber.Two editions which have a definite purposeare the front and rear spoilers.These aid in cornering speedby providing downforce.This downforce combinedwith wider rear tiresmake the CR slower in a straight linebut faster in the twisties.With this special edition, Hondawound down S2000 productionclosing down the assembly line in 2009.With the end of theS2K, Honda's line up wasfor the most part... missing fun.- Boring.- CRV's, Pilot's, and Odyssey minivansfilled Honda showrooms everywhere.Honda fans worried thatfun Honda's were gone.Today Honda is going through a repeatof what brought us theS2000 in the first place.They're becoming morefocused in motorsport.The world has a modern NSXand America has a TitebarJapan even has their own S roadsterin the form of a cute lite S660K car.Honda is fun again.- Dang.- The S2000, a car thatseemed out of characterfor Honda almost 20 years agomay actually be the mostHonda car that Honda has ever built.That's everything you need to knowto get up to speed on the Honda S2000.Subscribe to our channel.Hit that button.The more subs we get, the more coolstuff we get to do with you guys.Thank you so much for supporting us.You're the only reason that I have a job.If you like Honda's, checkout our Up to Speed episodeon the titebar.You wanna know how V-TEC works?Check out this episode of Science Garage.Follow me on Instagram @JamesPumphrey.Follow Donut on Instagram @DonutMedia.Go like our page.Go like our show page.I love you.
