The S2000 by Opera Performance has deep ties to "Gran Turismo" (GT). The car was developed using GT data that included various factors such as tire size, gear ratio, and weight, which were simulated around a racetrack, virtually. When the right combination clicked, then the car would see real, not virtual, development.
The body of the S2000 was taken apart, then a roll cage was installed. Various parts of the chassis were reinforced, including those that were banned in N1-racing regulations. The result was a body structure that was as solid as a rock, with minimal bending or torsional flex.
Opera Performance gave the engine the same treatment, by taking it apart and putting it back together with custom parts. The cams were swapped, a 4-unit throttle was added, and the exhaust system was also tuned, giving the engine an extra 49 HP. The extra oomph would be felt especially in the high-rev ranges.
Despite the mechanical makeover, the S2000 still lagged behind turbocharged tuner cars, so in order to improve the car's all-around performance, Opera Performance decided to make the car even lighter. The fenders and doors were made of carbon fiber, the side windows made of acrylic and the windshield composed of polycarbonate. In total, 280 kg was stripped off the stock car's curb weight. With all these changes, the transformed S2000 really took on the personality of an oversized go-kart.