Tuner Challenge V.2 RWD Entry
KC Motorsport SS.2000 Soichiro Special
What many consider among the best street-to-track cars of our day has just gotten better. Based on a Japanese market 2003 S2000 Type V, KC Motorsport proudly introduces the SS.2000 Soichiro Special. Named for Soichiro Honda, the company's founder and original mastermind of the S500, 600 and 800, our reimagined iteration would doubtless please him immensely.
After a total motor and ECU rebuild, we decided to address its relative lack of torque. As a solution, we fitted an extremely efficient turbocharger, which feeds the motor 461 horsepower and 289 ft.lbs. of torque peaking at 8500 and 7500 rpm respectively. Still, the low torque relative to power needed more attention. To whit, we replaced the OEM 6-speed with a race-bred unit of our own, allowing complete track-specific adjustment and much closer ratios. Much to our delight, the stock Torson LSD proved more than capable of harnessing almost double the motive force its original design intended, so we left it in place. The factory independent double-wishbone suspension got a complete overhaul though, and is tuned to retain the superb feel of the factory S2000 under vastly greater power load. We then fitted front and rear wings, using a lower angle of attack in the rear to match with the suspension's bias towards mild oversteer. Perfect aero balance is the result. To further enhance handling, every unnecessary ounce of weight is gone. The X-link monocoque frame is, even for a convertible, ideally rigid, so no additional stiffening proved necessary. As a final step, we added powerful racing-spec brakes grabbing 13 inch cross-drilled and dimpled rotors.
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Notes on Driving
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Very little needs to be said about the car's handling. It is the very definition of track balance. Corner entry is swift and decisive, even permitting trail braking very close to the apex if done carefully. Full-throttle exit is accompanied in lower gears by a perfectly-seasoned hint of power-oversteer, and in higher gears the line may as well be rails. Since the rear is mildly stiff, you may need to approach tracks like El Capitan with a bit of care, but testing proved that if driven correctly, the car is fine. Without reservation, we can say that this is close to the easiest car to handle at any speed that we've ever produced.
Power delivery does require some attention. The close gearing keeps it well within its band in 3rd gear and up, but slow-speed 2nd gear turns DO require the driver to keep the revs boiling. Should they drop too low, don't be afraid of the 2-1 downshift as it's much less severe than in many other cars of similar power.
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The Facts
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Powerplant: 1997cc Inline 4
Power: 461 bhp/8500rpm
Torque: 289 ft.lbs./7500rpm
Weight: 1079 kG
WPR: 2.340
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Parts List
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Racing Exhaust
Racing Brakes & Brake Balance Controller
Port Polish, Engine Balancing & ECU
Original Turbocharger (Tuner Village)
FC Transmission, Triple Plate Clutch, Racing Flywheel & Carbon Driveshaft
Racing Suspension (NOT Original Suspension)
Full Weight Reduction
Sports Tires - Soft Compound
Wing (3D type AB pictured)
Oil Change
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The Tune
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--Suspension Settings--
Spring Rates: 5.5/9.0
Ride Height: 110/120
Dampers (Bound): 2/5
Dampers (Rebound): 4/7
Camber: 3.0/1.5
Toe Angle: 1/0
Stabilizers: 2/4
--Brake Balance and Downforce--
BBC: 3 Front/6 Rear
Downforce: 30/20
--Transmission--
This one calls for the tranny trick, as it leaves the gears appropriately close. From default settings, first set the final drive ratio to its highest setting (5.500 in this case). Next, adjust the autoset to 25, then all the way back to 1. From there, select the final drive ratio that gives you the best setup for the circuit. Testing on the Nurburgring, I used 3.420. You'll likely want to go shorter than that (higher numeric value) for other circuits. You may also want to fiddle with the independent ratios of gears one through three depending on whether you use manual gearing or automatic. Find a setting that works well for your style.
You may have even seen it but not realize now that it's the same car.
