Known as the “torqueless wonder,” the S2000 has earned its keep mainly on the merits of its handling. Before VTEC kicks in, the anemic motor leaves something to be desired – and to respond to this widely-voiced concern, famed tuner Powerhouse Amuse stroked the F22C1 another tenth of a liter to help bring the motor on-song a little sooner.

Though 300 hp isn’t much by today’s standards, the S2300’s appearance leaves no one uncertain about its purpose.

The Amuse S2300 benefits from a wider track and some downforce, which actually hide some of the value of this gutsy motor. The added stick does make the car more compliant, and the additional grunt is hard to notice by all but the most discerning eyes. Where that extra torque is apparent is in the second and third gear-corners. Tsuchiya never violently stabs at the throttle to keep the revs up. Nor does he employ a clutch kick, which he was never averse to doing in AE86 – the spiritual predecessor of Honda’s S2000. Instead, his power application is smooth and even still, the car is willing to break away while exiting the corners.

Even a misshift doesn’t halt the progression. The gears aren’t closely stacked, and the frequent use of only third and fourth gears on a medium-speed track suggest a healthy amount of added midrange. This means the VTEC engages more smoothly, and the driver doesn’t rely exclusively on revs to generate forward propulsion. Still, with all the added headwork and over 300 horsepower on tap, the motor is still peaky that signature VTEC bark usually accompanies a little throttle oversteer at the corner exit.

A widebody kit, Volk CE28 wheels and carbon canards complete the car’s aggressive look.

Though the car doesn’t push past the mid-corner phase with the urgency of a Corvette or a Viper, there’s no question that added torque makes the car a more entertaining machine. Whereas the rear axle was rarely overcome by the  stock motor’s torque, the stroked S2300 has the ability to break the tires loose at speed. Not only does this encourage the driver to find the limits, but it makes the car more exciting to watch. With the spectacular Tsuchiya behind the wheel, it’s a sight any gearhead should not overlook.