Tan's love for the ASM brand carries over to the engine compartment where he installed what he considers to be his favorite piece of the entire build: an ASM dry carbon clean air intake system. "It's pretty rare," he says. "As far as I know, I am currently the only S2000 in the area with it." Complementing the intake system is an Amuse full titanium exhaust. The combination of the two assures all that Tan will be making a few extra passes through his favorite tunnel just to hear that sweet sound so many are so fond of hearing. "I didn't have big plans for the engine other than to keep it naturally aspirated," Tan says. Upgrading ignition spark and adding to the stock but potent high-revving 2.2L engine is a set of Okada Projects plasma direct coil packs and a Sun Automobile Hyper Ground System. Engine dress up items include custom titanium radiator brackets, an ARC titanium heat shield, titanium battery cover, titanium spark plug cover and an aluminum radiator panel by, you guessed it, ASM.
To improve the S2000's already nimble handling characteristics, Tan contacted William at e-Autosports in El Monte, Calif., for a set of KW Variant 3 coilovers. The fully adjustable suspension affords this silver beauty an aggressive stance while keeping the roadster firmly planted to the ground. While William was busy doing the suspension install, Tan went crazy emptying his wallet on a Brembo GT big brake kit and Cusco ladder brace. To house the bigger brakes, the stock wheels would have to be replaced and Tommy Ha at www.gotuning.com was summoned for staggered 17-inch Prodrive GC-07 pieces. "Prodrive is one of the lightest rims on the market and they complement the ASM design," Tan says.
Wrapped around the Mercury Silver wheels are sticky 225/40-17 and 255/45-17 Toyo T1R Proxes tires. Swift front and rear antiroll bars and an ARC titanium front strut bar find their way onto the S2K for further suspension reinforcement.
The interior takes a "less is more" approach and remains relatively unchanged, with the exception of an ARC short-shift titanium knob and ber-rare Zoom Engineering carbon-fiber rearview mirror. Like his ASM intake and front end, Tan believes he was the first to own a Zoom carbon mirror. At the feet of the Bruno Magli-wearing driver is a pair of black and red ASM floor mats.
Tan Nguyen's interpretation of Honda's two-door roadster is one of subtlety and grace. Despite its lack of glitz and extravagance, the ASM front fascia's clean lines, Mugen hardtop and Silverstone paint manage to lure onlookers in seductively for a second look. "Future plans I have are getting the dry carbon rear bumper with the GT3-style vents and rear over fenders," Tan says. "I should be done with the car with the completion of the rear of the S2000 since I really can't imagine doing anything more." We're inclined to the man's word for it but are also willing to bet that if ASM's product line continues to grow, so will the evolution of Tan's S2K. "Oh wait, I think I'll replace the Amuse exhaust with an ASM full-titanium single-exit exhaust too," Tan says. Perhaps it's not too early to say, "I told you so."