Press the Sport or GS buttons and the Interactive Drive Control adjusts the suspension stiffness and steering weight over a well-chosen range of responses.
You expect that to be carried over to its handling, but in truth it offers a better combination of chassis balance, steering weight and brake feel than you'd ever dare to hope for.
Key to these are the smooth-shifting, six-speed, double-clutch gearbox, individual controls for engine and gearbox responsiveness, steering weighting and suspension tautness, and the fact that the engine produces a massive 502lb/ft of torque all the way from 1,500 to 5,750rpm.
The S2000 rails nimbly around corners, its electric power steering weighting up in a progressive fashion toward the limit.
In Sport mode (there are also Auto and Off-road settings to alter steering, ESP and throttle response) the 1.4 engine even sounds the part, but you're also saddled with a dollop of unwanted 'sporty' steering weight attacking you through the fat-rimmed wheel.
The steering has weight and is relatively quick, with a reassuring, tight feel when the SHO is pointed straight.
By reducing the amount of electric assist by about 20 percent, Sport mode gives the steering more weight and a sense, at least, of a better connection to the road.
The steering accumulates weight and sharpness the harder the car is pushed.
The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering has reassuring weight but does not provide much feedback.
While the steering has ample weight, the effort decreases as the wheel is turned.
