SP Rides: Simply Stunning
By Michael Kitchens
Name: Dylan Yong Watanabe
Age: 21
Occupation: Full-time student, Luxury retail associate
Hobbies: Cars, weightlifting
Year/Make/Model: 2004 Honda S2000 (AP2)
Color: Lamborghini Giallo Orion
Engine: J’s Racing 70RR Titanium Exhaust, Password JDM dry carbon fiber ram air induction kit, Password JDM cooling plate
Exterior: Voltex Racing Type 2 carbon fiber GT Wing, Custom metal wide-body front fenders with an extended ASM front bumper, Shine ASM carbon fiber lip, Spoon carbon fiber rear diffuser, Shine RX-7 FD carbon fiber sideskirts, ASM rear over fender, custom widened rear bumper, ASM duckbill, OEM s2000 hardtop, Spec-D headlights, Clear OEM CR side-markers
Interior: Aftermarket Deck, Aftermarket Door Speakers, ARC Titanium Shift Knob
Suspension: 3P Airlift Performance Suspension System
Wheels/Tires: Rays Gramlights 57xtreme racing wheels wrapped in Hankook Ventus V12 tires, Rays Red Lug Nuts
The first generation Honda S2000 is known for being a snappy ride — as in, it will snap you right around if you aren’t careful. Dylan Watanabe learned this first hand when his AP1 spun out of control in rainy weather.
“I had a lot to learn,” he recalled. “It was wet and I didn’t know how to control the car.”
But although the experience was frightening, it made Watanabe want to get back behind the wheel of another S2000. He lucked out after finding a second generation AP2 — one in pretty bad shape body wise, but one with super low-mileage and a strong engine. Fast forward a few years and he’s now the proud owner of this stunning, wide-bodied spectacle.
Swathed in a blinding yellow known as Lamborghini Giallo Orion, this magnificent machine features a suave wide-body kit. It’s hard to be subtle with a ride like this, but the front fenders are actually the original OEM ones that have since been doubled-up and merged to create an almost natural widening of the car. The ASM front bumper has also been molded to fit the extra width as well as the custom rear bumper. Peeking through are Spec-D headlights while clear OEM side-markers are placed alongside.
Throw in a ton of body mods such as carbon fiber sideskirts, ASM rear over-fenders, a slick S2000 hardtop and a sexy Spoon carbon fiber rear diffuser, and this head-turner is one sleek-looking Honda. The huge Voltex Racing Type 2 GT Wing adds even more attitude and looks absolutely amazing from the rear.
With Hawaii roads being an absolute menace for lowered vehicles, the 3P Airlift Performance Suspension System is an absolute must for this low-slung rocket. The drop allows the Rays Gram Lights 57Xtreme racing wheels to tuck nicely beneath the bulging fenders. They’re wrapped with Hankook Ventus V12 tires and locked into place with Rays Red Lug Nuts.
With such an aggressive interior, the engine needed some spice to match, so Watanabe included bolt-ons to increase the S2000’s performance. These additions feature a massive Password JDM dry carbon fiber ram air induction kit and cooling plate as well as a J’s Racing 70RR Titanium Exhaust.
What Watanabe has done with this ride is nothing short of amazing. And although there’s more instore for this ride, when it comes to building, Watanabe has just one motto: “Forget everyone else. Just do what you want.”
