Honda S2000 Supercharger Kits: HKS vs KraftWerks Guide

A Honda S2000 supercharger kit is the single most effective way to add usable, reliable power to the high-revving F20C and F22C engine without swapping the motor. Both bolt-on centrifugal systems we stock — the HKS GT2 S/C System Pro and the KraftWerks Rotrex C30-94 kit — take a factory 237–240 hp roadster into the 310–400+ wheel-horsepower range while keeping the linear, VTEC-friendly delivery that makes the S2000 special. This guide compares both kits across all AP1 (2000–2005) and AP2 (2006–2009) model years, with real boost, power, tuning, and install figures so you can pick the right forced-induction path for your car.

Why Supercharge a Honda S2000?

Supercharging is the most reliable way to make a Honda S2000 meaningfully faster because it adds boost across the entire rev range instead of only up top. The AP1’s F20C is a 2.0L (1,997cc) DOHC VTEC four that makes 240 hp at 8,300 rpm and revs to a 9,000 rpm redline — a screaming, race-bred engine, but one that produces just 153 lb-ft of torque and does most of its work above the VTEC crossover. The AP2’s F22C1 grows displacement to 2.2L (2,157cc) for 237 hp and a healthier 162 lb-ft at 6,800 rpm, trading a little top-end rev range for street-friendly midrange.

The knock against a stock S2000 has always been that torque valley below 6,000 rpm. A centrifugal supercharger fixes exactly that: it spins off the crankshaft via a belt, builds boost progressively with engine speed, and fills in the midrange so you no longer have to wait for VTEC to feel the car pull. At our Tampa, FL shop we see stock cars run low-14-second quarter miles; a properly tuned supercharged S2000 on pump gas routinely lands in the 12s. Because both kits here are traction-drive centrifugal designs, they keep that linear, rev-happy character rather than dumping in a wall of low-end boost like a roots blower would.

HKS GT2 vs KraftWerks Rotrex: How Do They Differ?

Both kits use a traction-drive centrifugal supercharger, but they take different engineering routes to get there. A traction-drive charger uses a planetary roller set (bathed in special traction fluid) instead of gears to spin the compressor to 90,000+ rpm, which makes both units quieter, more efficient, and less shock-loaded than a gear-driven blower. The practical differences come down to tuning strategy, cooling hardware, and how each company packages the system.

HKS GT2 S/C System Pro

The HKS GT2 is a fully engineered, single-source system built around HKS’s own GT-series supercharger. Out of the box on roughly 10 psi it produced about 310 whp and 213 lb-ft in HKS’s own testing — numbers HKS deliberately targeted for reliable daily driving. It ships with the GT S/C unit, Super Power Flow intake, air-to-air intercooler, suction and chamber piping, S/C bracket, pulley and belt, relief valve, and the traction-oil cooler, tank, and fluid. The “Pro” designation means it requires a separate engine-management solution (standalone or piggyback) rather than reflashing the factory ECU.

KraftWerks Rotrex C30-94 Kit

The KraftWerks kit is built around the Danish Rotrex C30-94 traction-drive supercharger and is offered per model year for AP1 and AP2 cars. It is the more complete cooling package: alongside the Rotrex self-contained oiling system and oil cooler, KraftWerks adds an upgraded Laminova engine oil cooler, an oil-filter relocation kit, an air-to-air intercooler, a recirculating bypass valve, aluminum charge piping, silicone hoses, an automatic belt-tensioning system, and a 6-rib belt. It is configurable at 5 psi (base) or 10 psi (hi-boost), and the C30-94 has the headroom to push a built or well-supported F-series past 400 whp.

The Best Honda S2000 Supercharger Kits (2000–2009)

Here are the four supercharger kits we stock for the S2000, covering every AP1 and AP2 model year. Prices land in the $5,000–$5,500 range — expensive, but these are complete forced-induction systems, not just a blower on a bracket.

The HKS GT2 is our top pick for owners who want a single, cohesive, factory-grade system. Every component — charger, intercooler, piping, and traction-oil cooling — was engineered together and validated by HKS on the F20C/F22C, so there is no guesswork about part compatibility. At about $5,500 it is the priciest kit here, and the “Pro” label means you will budget for standalone or piggyback engine management, but the payoff is a refined ~310 whp curve that pulls hard through the midrange where a stock S2000 goes flat.

This is the AP1-specific KraftWerks kit for early 2000–2003 cars, built around the Rotrex C30-94. It is sold “without tuner,” so you supply the engine management — most owners pair it with an AEM or Hondata solution. At roughly $5,080 (marked down from $5,344.76) it undercuts the HKS while including a more comprehensive cooling suite, and the C30-94 has the headroom to grow well beyond the base 5 psi tune.

For 2004–2005 cars, KraftWerks uses a 30mm-wide belt and an automatic tensioning system for slip-free power delivery at higher boost. It is mechanically the same Rotrex C30-94 platform as the other year kits, priced identically at about $5,080, and is the right choice when your VIN falls in the mid-production AP1/AP2 transition window.

The AP2 kit fits 2006–2009 S2000 and the 2008–2009 CR (Club Racer). Because these cars run Honda’s reflashable ECU, the natural tuning path is Hondata FlashPro rather than a standalone — a simpler, cleaner install for a street car. Same Rotrex C30-94, same roughly $5,080 price, same 400 whp ceiling with proper fueling and a competent tune.

Honda S2000 Supercharger Kit Comparison

Here is how the four kits stack up on the three decisions that matter most: which supercharger they use, the boost and power they make, and the engine management they need.

How Much Power Will a Supercharged S2000 Make?

A supercharged Honda S2000 typically makes 300–340 wheel horsepower on a conservative pump-gas tune and can exceed 400 whp with more boost and supporting mods. The HKS GT2 lands around 310 whp and 213 lb-ft at roughly 10 psi straight out of the box — that is a jump of about 90–110 whp over a healthy stock car, and just as importantly it more than doubles the wheel torque low in the rev range. The KraftWerks Rotrex C30-94 starts at a mild 5 psi base tune (great for stock internals and daily reliability) and scales to a 10 psi hi-boost configuration, with the compressor itself rated to support 400+ whp when the engine, fuel, and tune are up to it.

The reason both kits feel so much bigger than the numbers suggest is torque delivery. Stock, the S2000 makes peak torque up near 6,800–7,500 rpm; a centrifugal blower adds boost progressively so you get a broad, building shove from about 4,000 rpm all the way to redline — no more waiting for VTEC. Keep expectations realistic on the top figure: 400+ whp on a factory-internals F20C/F22C is achievable but demands race fuel or E85, a built bottom end for hard track use, and meticulous tuning.

Installation, Tuning & Supporting Mods

Installing a Honda S2000 supercharger kit is a full weekend job for an experienced DIYer and roughly 12–20 hours of professional shop labor. Both kits are complete bolt-on systems — no engine disassembly — but you are routing charge piping, mounting an intercooler, plumbing the traction-oil cooling circuit, and fitting the charger bracket to the front of the engine. Torque the belt tensioner to spec and verify oil-line routing before the first start; a starved traction drive is the fastest way to ruin a centrifugal charger.

Tuning is not optional. The AP1’s non-flashable ECU pushes most owners toward AEM or a Hondata solution, while AP2 cars (2006–2009) take a Hondata FlashPro for a clean, reflash-based tune — which is why the KraftWerks kits are split by year. Because the F20C and F22C run high 11.0:1–11.1:1 compression from the factory, a good tuner will run conservative timing and adequate fueling on 91–93 octane; many owners step up to E85 for knock margin. Budget for supporting hardware at higher boost: larger fuel injectors, an upgraded fuel pump, and a stronger clutch to hold the extra torque. At our Tampa, FL shop we always recommend a dyno tune session after install rather than relying on a generic base map.

Which Honda S2000 Supercharger Should You Buy?

Choose the HKS GT2 if you want a single-source, engineered-as-one system with proven ~310 whp and you do not mind pairing it with standalone or piggyback management. Choose the KraftWerks Rotrex C30-94 kit — matched to your exact year — if you want the best value, the most complete cooling package, and the option to chase 400+ whp down the road. Either way, buy the kit that matches your VIN: an AP1 (2000–2005) and AP2 (2006–2009) differ in ECU strategy and engine, and the correct kit saves you tuning headaches. All four are in stock and ship from NLP Performance.