In short
- European AP2 cars kept the 2.0-litre route, while the US AP2 used the 2.2-litre route.
- Honda records the Japanese change from 2.0 to 2.2 in November 2005.
- The signed print pairs the 2.0 with 208 Nm and the 2.2 with 220 Nm.
- Verify an imported car from its build date, documents and engine code instead of inferring its engine from a UK registration.
The easy shortcut is to call every AP2 a 2.2. That shortcut fails in Europe. Start with the car’s original market, then use documents and the engine code to prove which specification belongs on the print.
Is an S2000 AP2 a 2.0 or a 2.2?
A European AP2 kept the 2.0-litre F20C. The US AP2 used the 2.2-litre F22C. Japan changed to 2.2 in November 2005, so the body years alone cannot resolve every import.
Why does the S2000 market matter more than the year?
Honda sold different AP2 engine specifications in different markets at the same time. A 2005 date identifies the later body, but it does not make a European car a 2.2.
The S2000 buyer’s guide explains the body and viewing checks. This narrower comparison exists because engine identity is one fact the body shape cannot supply.
How do the signed 2.0 and 2.2 print figures compare?
Both signed variants list 240 bhp, 1260 kg, 6.0 seconds to 60 mph and 150 mph. The 2.0 lists 208 Nm, while the 2.2 lists 220 Nm.
| Figure | 2.0 F20C | 2.2 F22C |
|---|---|---|
| Market route | Europe and early Japanese AP2 | US AP2 and Japan from November 2005 |
| Engine | 2.0L F20C inline 4 | 2.2L F22C inline 4 |
| Power | 240 bhp | 240 bhp |
| Torque | 208 Nm | 220 Nm |
| Weight | 1260 kg | 1260 kg |
| 0 to 60 | 6 sec | 6 sec |
What should you verify before choosing the engine?
Match the original market, vehicle documents and engine code. If they conflict or the engine has been changed, stop and resolve that evidence before ordering a specification-led print.
A personalised plate can obscure age but cannot prove an engine. The private-plate age guide explains that limit. The builder should record what the car is, not what its current registration suggests.
Which sources support the S2000 market split?
Honda’s European 2004 release identifies the retained 2.0-litre engine. Honda’s model history records Japan’s November 2005 change to 2.2, and its US brochure confirms the later 2.2 specification there. Print values remain Jonathan’s signed catalogue figures.
Read Honda’s European model release, global model history and US S2000 brochure. Then choose the verified engine in the builder.
Questions people actually ask
- Does every AP2 Honda S2000 have the 2.2 engine?
- No. European AP2 cars retained the 2.0-litre F20C. The US AP2 used the 2.2-litre F22C, while Honda records the Japanese change to 2.2 in November 2005. AP2 body identity alone does not settle the engine.
- How can you tell whether an S2000 has an F20C or F22C?
- Check the vehicle documents, original market and engine code. A UK registration can belong to an imported car, so its current plate and registration date are not enough to prove which engine was fitted.
- What torque does the S2000 2.0 print use?
- The signed 2.0-litre print specification uses 208 Nm. Jonathan corrected an older poster that had paired the 2.0 engine wording with the 2.2 engine's 220 Nm figure.
- Does the S2000 2.2 need a different car drawing?
- No for this catalogue model. The verified 2.0 and 2.2 specifications share the same 2004 to 2009 AP2 body drawing, so the engine choice changes the statistics block rather than the artwork.
Written by Jonathan in Derby. Last updated .