westfield-mega-s2000-ckc-review.pdf

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GAME

Changer

Following in the footsteps of the top spec Mega Busa and

SEiGHT, Westfield’s latest Mega S2000 brings all the

chassis sophistication of the company’s turnkey Sport

Turbo to the kit car masses, and then some.

Words and pics: Ian Stent

www. completekitcar .co.uk

16 | April 2013 Issue 73 CKC

Westfield S2000

W estfield’s Sport Turbo

The front suspension is now the same

as the turnkey car, being all new geometry

and, on this car, featuring upgraded

lightweight Reynolds tubing and improved

coil-over dampers. And while the rear IRS

suspension is the same as that found on

the Ford based SEi, the chassis continues

to evolve with many of the production car

tweaks developed for the turnkey model.

Indeed, expect much of what’s found on

this chassis to trickle further across the kit

car range, so that eventually all models

will utilise the same tech.

But somehow the S2000, despite the

stripped back racer styling seen here, owes

yet more to the time and money that the

factory has invested in the Sport Turbo.

Everything fits, it’s neatly installed, clean

and tidy and retains a production feel

despite the minimalism. All Westfield

models will benefit from this experience

and, as the factory is keen to point out,

whether you buy a base body/chassis kit or

a top-end Sport Turbo, the body and

chassis are created by the same guys, to

the same standards.

OK, so much of what you see here is

already to be found on other kit models

has been stealing the

headlines for the last

year or two, but the

reality remains that you can only buy a

factory built example, and most are

heading into Europe. Make no mistake,

the Sport Turbo is the best Westfield we’ve

ever driven, but its lack of kit form

availability has meant the traditional SEi

models have taken a back seat when it

comes to publicity.

To bring the focus firmly back to

Westfield’s roots, the company showed off

a Honda S2000 engined kit form Westie at

several of last year’s shows. But only now

has the car been IVA’d and registered, and

CKC is first behind the wheel.

What we can reveal right here, right

now, is that this is far more than just an

engine upgrade... what you are looking at

is perhaps the most important new kit

form Westfield to come out of the factory

in decades.

Why? Because in much the same way

as F1 tech can trickle down into our daily

runabouts, so some of the engineering

know-how that went into the all new Sport

Turbo is now finding its way back into

Westfield’s kit cars...

BUILD DRIVE ENJOY

CKC April 2013 Issue 73 | 17

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Left: Specially rated

dampers and springs have

been designed specifically

for the Westfield.

Right: Suspension on this

example uses optional

lightweight Reynolds tubing

with standard cast alloy

uprights. It works a treat.

within the range, but the Mega S2000 isn’t

called something different for no reason.

The Mega tagline line is there to link this

derivative firmly with earlier incarnations,

such as the bike powered MegaBusa.

While road legal, the Mega range is

perhaps the company’s most extreme

variant, before heading into full blown

race specifications. Obvious features

include the aeroscreen and utterly

minimalist interior. Further Mega

upgrades can include anti-roll bars,

limited slip differential, big brake kit, full

roll cage and various track day focused

wheel and tyre packages, among a long

list of other options.

And then there’s the S2000

denomination. This is an easier and more

obvious one to pin down, with Westfield

installing Honda’s acclaimed 2-litre VTEC

Type R engine under the bonnet. Using the

unit from the S2000 means an already in-

line configuration (as opposed to

transversely located units in the Civic Type

R etc) and a terrific 6-speed gearbox

transmitting power to the rear wheels.

It’s an engine that justifies all the

acclaim that heads its way. Naturally

aspirated, it delivers around 240bhp with a

maximum rev limit at a heady 8000rpm. It

is still the most powerful naturally

aspirated 2-litre engine to reach regular

production, ever!

While it is possible to retain the Honda

ECU (as Westfield’s Australian agent has

done on several occasions), for the

factory’s production requirements, a more

dedicated solution was required, so regular

kits will feature an Omex developed ECU

which plugs straight into a bespoke wiring

loom... one advantage of which is that the

engine management has been designed to

Westfield’s requirements, not Honda’s

constraints, part of which is now a VTEC

which kicks in lower in the rev range.

Because of the height of the new

engine, all S2000 kits require the bonnet

scoop originally designed for the V8

SEiGHT model, and it means this car

features an unusual mix of traditional SEi

nosecone (and bonnet) with later FW rear

end and sides. The scuttle is a universal

fitment across the

range and, where bonnet height

requirements aren’t an issue, customers

can mix and match panels from either FW

or SEi derivatives... they have all been

designed to be interchangeable.

Lift the SEiGHT bonnet away and the

new installation is simplicity itself. If the

Sport Turbo is a feat of packaging

wizardry, here there’s little to distract your

eyes from the bold VTEC wording

emblazoned on the cam cover. Apart from

a header tank and fuses found on the

bulkhead, there’s almost no visible wiring

or complicated plumbing. It looks

brilliantly minimal...

Which is a feature reflected in the

interior. Powdercoated black aluminium

panelling is left untrimmed, save for

rubber matting on the floor. The dash is a

simple carbon effect flat panel with two

rocker switches, three toggle switches and

some small buttons to control the Race

Technology dash unit (badged Potenza

here and bringing up the words Westfield

Sportscars every time the car is started).

But it’s not all stark simplicity – where

untrimmed fibreglass bucket seats might

seem logical, the factory has fitted its

Sport Turbo seats, which are fantastically

comfortable and supportive.

Once installed in the cockpit, initial

impressions are focused on the generous

cockpit length (we need to bring the seat

forward several notches), wide footwell

and consequently well-spaced pedals. A

tall gear lever falls beautifully to hand,

just a palm width away from the steering

wheel.

One option not fitted to this car is a

full windscreen, the aeroscreen being

the standard fitment on a car with such

obvious track day potential. But it

means eye protection in the form of

goggles or a full helmet is a must, with

the latter offering obvious safety

advantages when it comes to stones

being flicked up by other cars.

Below: Honda VTEC

2-litre S2000 delivers

240bhp and is one of the

most charismatic and

entertaining engines on the

market. Period.

www. completekitcar .co.uk

18 | April 2013 Issue 73 CKC

Westfield S2000

The Honda engine sounds smooth and

contained at tick-over, exiting through a

catalysed exhaust system (included in the

main kit package) that’s IVA friendly but

pleasingly throaty.

The engine is unmodified from its

donor, save an oil change and the fitment

of a Westfield baffled sump (only really

needed for when it heads trackside).

Complete with the stock 6-speed gearbox,

it’s typically a £2500 second-hand

purchase which usually includes the

original ECU.

Apart from the sensation that the

engine might stall at initial pick-up, the

Omex ECU runs the engine sweetly (some

final mapping is still to be done on this

first example before production kits will be

offered). It’s more than happy to potter

through the Kingswinford shopping area

on our way to more interesting blacktop.

But even here there are things to learn.

For starters, the ride... here’s yet

another trickle down advantage for kit

owners from the massive development put

into the production Sport Turbo... the ride

is sublime. It’s an effortless mix of soft and

supple comfort that seemingly has no

detrimental effect on handling when

pushing on later. The lightweight

Reynolds tubing, high quality dampers and

well chosen spring rates all combine to

superlative effect that’s largely unmatched

by other sevenesque competitors. We’d say

it’s unquestionably one of the defining

features of the new chassis package,

regardless of what’s under the bonnet.

But what’s under the bonnet is pretty

special. You might think that a cocktail of

stratospheric revs and a naturally

aspirated 2-litre engine would result is a

lacklustre performance at the lower

end of the scale... a

car that only gets

up and goes when

you’re working it

hard. It’s rather

better than that...

Even at low revs

the VTEC sounds

great and pulls with

obvious potential –

you’re very aware of

what this car can do.

Going through town there’s a worry that

the 6-speed box is so low geared as to

make first and second redundant... you

can cruise in sixth from seemingly very

low speeds. But it all makes sense when

you are in the clear. Out in the countryside

there’s always a gear to match your

requirements. The lever has a short throw

from one cog to the next, and its location

so close to the steering wheel is an utter

joy.

Above: Driving position is

excellent and Sport Turbo

seats are worth the

premium.

And back to the engine... wow, it’s

super quick and deliciously powerful – a

constant wave of propulsion that sees you

take advantage of every opportunity the

roads may bring. It’s mighty, and possibly

the fastest production Westfield we’ve ever

experienced.

Left: Race Technology

Dash2 unit branded for

Potenza. It works very well.

Below: Dash ultra simple

in this example, but you

could specify trim level to

suit your needs.

BUILD DRIVE ENJOY

CKC April 2013 Issue 73 | 19

Exclusive!

WESTFIELD MEGA S2000

Specifications

Engine as tested: 2-litre Honda VTEC Type R, Omex ECU, 237bhp.

Engine options: Mega S2000 is bespoke to the Honda VTEC, but other models

accommodate most common engine options... Ford, Mazda etc.

Chassis: Multi-tubular spaceframe chassis, optional lightweight Reynolds tubing and wide-

track wishbones on test car.

Bodywork: All fibreglass pre-coloured panels.

Suspension: Front and rear – Double wishbones, outboard coil-over dampers, cast alloy

uprights. Various options, including anti-roll bars and wide track front wishbones.

Steering: Westfield rack and column.

Brakes: Front 4-pot front calipers and vented calipers, rear calipers with handbrake facility,

no servo.

Kit price: Starter kit: £4250 inclusive VAT. Standard kit: £13,999 inclusive with just engine

and gearbox, plus wheels and tyres to add.

Factory Built: From £21,500.

Budget build cost: From £17,500.

Contact

Westfield Sportscars, Kingswinford, West Midlands.

T: 01384 400077. E: sales@westfield-sportscars.co.uk

W: www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk

dramatics – a vital ingredient if you want

to go quickly.

The steering too, is a strong feature of

this car. Ultra sticky Toyo Proxes R1-R

tyres are turned by what appears to be a

particularly quick steering rack and

while that makes the steering

surprisingly heavy at slow speeds, it’s a

great combo when pushing on. The

S2000 brims with grippy confidence,

turns in with complete accuracy and

offers extraordinary levels of grip.

It all combines to great effect, making

the Westfield super quick at all times,

whether reeling in a long straight or

carving through some challenging twisty

bits. It’s great fun.

As we potter back into town and head to

the factory there’s time to consider the

S2000 as an ownership proposition. The

engine is a dream and the easiest

component to sum up... once you’ve

experienced it, nothing else will do – end of.

And the kit itself is also an easy one to

place... it’s the best Westfield we’ve driven –

ever. It succeeds perfectly in taking the

essential components from the Sport Turbo

which relate to the driving experience, and

refining them into a more focused package

that’s ideally suited to the kit car builder.

Above right: New front

wishbone design operates

directly on inboard coil-over

dampers.

And that’s only made possible by the

complete assurance given to the driver by

the chassis, suspension, steering and

brakes. The latter feature Westfield’s

optional upgrade package, meaning

aftermarket 4-pot calipers and larger

grooved discs. Complete with fancy pads,

they offer a firm pedal and complete

confidence when used firmly... the S2000

pulls up straight and true, with no

Above right: Big grooved

discs and 4-pot calipers

offer massive and

predictable braking

performance.

Below: This example

features FW rear bodywork,

but the car will come with

conventional SEi bodywork

as standard.

www. completekitcar .co.uk

20 | April 2013 Issue 73 CKC

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