Isn't that what Hondas are all about these days? Looking faster? I see more prediction/comparisons strictly concerning performance on the next Z against Porsche's Boxter than with Honda's S2000, but anyways here is my 2 cents on the latter: The S2000 fares well on paper (240 hp @ 8300rpm), but you dont base auto comparisons on horsepower numbers. How much of that power is usable on an everyday basis? Are you really going to be spinning your flywheel near 9 grand at each stoplight? All aspects of a car need to be well balanced, and the Honda seriously lacks in torque (153 lb/ft @7500) simply due to smaller displacement. Yes, we all know it's "amazing but true" that Honda motors have astonishing HP:liter ratios, but without the torque and broad powerband of a 6-cylinder car, driveability is lost.
Even without confirmed power specifications of the next Z, you can EASILY assume that there will be much more than 153 lb/ft of torque; naturally aspirated 6 cylinders generally have their torque and HP numbers close together. Maybe the S2000 is a wonder on the road course, but I'd much rather have a Z for my daily driver. Whether you want to pass someone on the freeway, jump hard from the starting line, or send the aft outwards in a turn, the Z should be capable of doing all with much more ease than the S2000, that is, IF it is powered by anything similar to the VQ35. While the S2000 rides around town like some sort of elitist, the next Z should hold true to its heritage of being a cost-effective FUN car to drive.