As part of Honda's attempt to re-brand itself as a performance-oriented manufacturer offering a range of sports car, the company is reportedly planning on bringing the epic S2000 back to life. The last generation, which was produced from 1999 to 2009, was widely regarded as one of the finest rear-wheel drive roadsters on the market, and one of the most exciting to drive. Honda will try to resurrect that legend, this time with some significant changes that not all fans will love.

Expected in 2017, the next-generation S2000 will feature a mid-engine layout, all-wheel drive and a hardtop. Expect the car to integrate some form of hybrid technology (developed in collaboration with McLaren Formula One), allowing it to produce a total of 350 horsepower from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine, while still providing fuel economy of around 40mpg. The S2000 will fit in well under the soon-to-be-released $160,000 NSX, and is expected to cost approximately $60,000. We'll have more details and photos as they emerge.