The ITR started at 195 HP and held its own on the track, then the new ITR came out with 2.0 L and 220HP and still a four cylinder and it holds its own too.. my question to you guys is, how long do you think it will be till honda goes V6 OR how far do you think Honda can take the ITR in a four cylinder configuration and still increase power and handling?

 

ummm...i don't remember the last time acura came out with a 2.0 220hp type r?!

 

well then you have a lot to learn.

 

for the states

 

He never mentioned the states...the DC5 2.0L ITR makes 220ps at the flywheel.

second, the ITR will never be a V-6...it'll either stop at 2.0L or go 2.2L but 2.2l is also pushing it a bit....Keep in mind, the overall concept of the R (keep it light weight and simple)

I think in another couple of years or so, the 2004 spec R will produce close to 250-270hp off the same 2.0L engine...my predictions have not ever been off by much...

 

That won't be too difficult for Honda, cause the S2000 2.0L is already making 240 HP stock........

 

Just a thought,if Honda does step up to the plate and makes an ITR that is producing 250-270hp wonder what the cost would be?I also thought one of the ideas behind the car was to keep it affordable and at that point I think the car would have to become fairly expensive.Even if the car got up to the mid 30's it wouldn't be an issue over here because it doesn't have other well rounded performers like the Silvia,STI version,EVO,FD3S and other cars in that price range to compete with.Over seas it might have a bit of trouble though because there are more choices of cars that handle,break and accelerate well.Here we have the Fbody's(not much longer) and Mustangs in that price range.

 

Judging from the headline on this page

http://www.honda.co.jp/INTEGRATYPE-R/race/index.html

the Beams Racing DC5Rs finished 1st and 2nd in their class in their first race. I can't read the rest of the article though, so I don't know what they were competing against.

-buji

 

As far as handling I don't know. A $25,000 car handling better than porsche and ferrari is crazy. I don't see how they could make anything much better than the 97-01 ITR. I guess they could ship them with R compound tires...
As far as power, I think they are pushing the envilope. Until the S2000 the ITR made the most hp/liter of any production car it the world. You would think they've squeazed every ounce of power out of our engines, but then there are people on this board who find a few more. But basically I think they've maxed out our engine, and to get more power they're going to have to up the displacement. Of course we're still talking small *** engines even with the 2.0. GM makes 4.0 4cylinders.





[Modified by jond, 2:25 PM 11/24/2001]

 

All sports cars eventually get away from their original purpose. Sure they get a little faster, but they get less rough, less agile, and heavier - and most importantly, more expensive. Look at the M3 in its 3 incarnations...each one more civilized and heavier and more docile than the next. Porsche 911, the same thing. The Prelude, even. The new Type-R is following that philosphy. Sure it will get through the 1320 .3s faster or whatever, but it's losing its character and it will probably cost 3-4K more.

Eventually, like the Nissan 300Zx ad the Toyota Supra, it will become too expensive and too loaded with gadgets to appeal to its target audience, and will have to be discontinued. As smart as Honda is, every car company succumbs to the lure of making their car faster and more plush. Give me one example of a car that LOST weight, GAINED agility, and DROPPED in price when it was redesigned.

 

I totally agree with Ross.

 

Give me one example of a car that LOST weight, GAINED agility, and DROPPED in price when it was redesigned.[/QUOTE]

What about the new Celica GTS? Something like 2500lbs., is leap years above the old body style in terms of power and agility, and is probably very comparibly priced (not too sure what the old one's ran for).

 

Third-generation Mazda RX-7.

 

Pretty damn good.

 

wouldn't the whole engine be like the s2k engine cept front wheel drive?


2.0 240hp

oh yeah to answer your question
"as much as money they have"


[Modified by BoM, 5:53 PM 11/24/2001]

 

Ok the Celica GT-S I can agree with. But they had to re-design a car that sucked...they weren't evolving a successful car like the ITR. My main point is that manufacturers don't adhere to "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" - and this results in cars that end up becoming something that they were not intended to be. Of course there will be exceptions. The 3rd-gen RX-7 was great but it was too expensive for its target audience which is why it's not sold here anymore.

 

Corvette ZR1 vs. Corvette Z06.

-buji

 

thanks. I guess we should put the Mustang in there too, the new GTs vs. the 95-98 GTs.