There’s nothing sporty to talk about when it comes to Japanese Kei cars. For starters, these cars have a legal limit for power output — drivers need to enjoy the benefit of an efficient vehicle. But Honda seems to be onto something in the past decade. There’s been a rebirth of the legendary NSX and notably, the ultimate street-legal Honda Civic Type R. And now, pushing the limits of the compact car category, the Honda S660 Concept Edition.
YouTube channel Galeri Kereta does an interesting review covering a rare 2015 Honda S660 Concept Edition. The car belongs to the owner of Direxiv, a Malaysian Auto Parts Dealer. However, Edmund, a partner, who also doubles up as a Japanese Car Import and Export agent, does the walkaround tour of the compact car.
The Modified Honda S660 Concept Edition
According to Edmund, the car was imported to Malaysia in white and has had a ton of mods done to it, starting with the matte black wrap. The S660 was initially white, with a red rooftop. Since the car is under the Kei car category in Japan, it was cheaper to import. These categories of cars enjoy duty exemption in Japan.
This S660 comes with a 660cc turbocharged engine, mated to a six-speed manual transmission system. The automatic version comes with a 7-speed CVT transmission with paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel for a racy feel.
The mod list on this Kei car is quite impressive for a 660cc vehicle. It has a full-bolt-on blitz suspension, a moded intake, Greddy intercooler, an aftermarket blow-off valve, and a water cooling system upgrade. On the interior, the cabin is filled with a ton of aftermarket gauges. Edmund doesn’t specify the ECU Map tune the car is running.
Most Exciting Mod Of All: Superbike Exhaust
Part of the exterior mods includes a front splitter and a custom mean-looking rear diffuser. It’s also fitted with an obnoxious rear spoiler. The S660 doesn’t come with a wing. Perhaps the most exciting mod of all is the superbike exhaust. Edmund doesn’t mention its benefits, but it adds a unique tune to how it sings.
“This is a direct pipping straight to the exhaust; the exhaust system is very short.” He explained.
Due to its size, the Honda S660 sits extremely low, and it almost feels like Edmund is getting into a supercar—a baby supercar of sorts.
The Honda S660 is an impressive compact mid-engine roadster. As the duo drives out to the highway, the car feels fun to drive, especially on mountain passes. Edmund does a few pulls on the road, and the exhaust sounds funky amid blow-off hiss interruptions. It's immediately evident that the S660 isn’t as fast, but there’s no doubt it’s a fun car to drive.