If the S2000 never existed
#3
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#8
Despite the fact that the s2000 didn't shatter any sales records, I feel like it made a profound impact on the roadster/small sports car market. Back in 2000, the S could compete with or beat the Boxster S, M Roadster, TT, SLK, etc., at a fraction of the price. Promptly following the introduction of the s2000, most of those cars made serious improvements. Much in the same way that I think baby supercars (458, Gallardo, R8 5.2) would not exist in their current forms without the introduction of the NSX, I think current roadsters/small sports cars would not have evolved as they have.
If I had to guess where I'd be, I would say I would be driving an Elise with about 160hp. I think BMW would have been slower to adopt the S54 in the M Roadster, Porsche would have stuck with 250hp (?) in the Boxster for a longer time, etc., and things would have generally evolved at a slower pace in this market segment, leading to the first real, raw sports car in the modern US market (the Elise), which probably would have gotten by with less hp than it currently has.
If I had to guess where I'd be, I would say I would be driving an Elise with about 160hp. I think BMW would have been slower to adopt the S54 in the M Roadster, Porsche would have stuck with 250hp (?) in the Boxster for a longer time, etc., and things would have generally evolved at a slower pace in this market segment, leading to the first real, raw sports car in the modern US market (the Elise), which probably would have gotten by with less hp than it currently has.