We previously reported that American Honda CEO Tetsuo Iwamura wanted to sell the Japan-only S660 around the world, and that time may have finally arrived. According to Australian publication Motoring.com.au, the Japanese automaker has greenlit a more potent version of the S660, which will wear an S1000 badge and be offered in other markets outside Japan.

The tiny sports car will reportedly drop the 64-hp 660-cc three-cylinder engine in favor of a larger 1.0-liter turbocharged inline-three that dishes out around 126 hp to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual. In addition to the more powerful engine, the S1000 will have a hard roof with a wider and more aggressive body than the S660. Another difference between the S1000 and S660 you can expect is a unique “snorkel-type” roof air-intake that will help cool the engine. What’s more is that there are even reports of an S660 Type R in the works. This car will reportedly put out over 100 hp as well, and it may show up in showrooms as soon as mid-2016. Rumors of a kei-car in the U.S. have been circulating for quite some time. We’ve reported before that Honda could wait for the more potent version of the S660 to arrive before exporting to other markets including the United States. While 126 hp doesn’t sound like much, it should be plenty for a mini-car that weighs between 1,875 and 2,000 pounds. To meet American front- and side-impact regulations, however, some changes would need to be made.

As designer Sugiura told us when the concept debuted in 2013, "any export version, and we are not saying we have one yet, would have to undergo some major body modifications like the impact-absorbing '5 mph bumpers' required for the U.S. market as well as wider fenders and wheel arches for larger tires."

Still, this gives us hope that we may one day get Honda's pint-sized, mid-engine roadster.

Honda has hit a Japan-only homerun with its new S660 sports car. The diminutive mid-engined machine has sold out its entire first-year production run of 8,600 cars. We love the fact that a nation is so excited for a lightweight, low-power convertible that its citizens quickly scooped them all up. There will be another go-around for the car, and the orders will no doubt flood in again.

While the S660 has kicked serious butt in Japan, we'd be really curious how it would fare in the United States. Unfortunately, the car isn’t likely to end up here based on recent comments made by American Honda chief John Mendel.

"I wouldn't put my chips on that," Mendel told Automotive News (subscription required) when asked about the car’s chances of being sold locally. "When the practicalities of the market come in, and the car only so big, that might not be the best car for the U.S. market—it might be better for India or China or somewhere else."

His comments aren’t much of a surprise considering how small the S660 actual is. Recall that it’s nearly two feet shorter than the already tiny fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. Additionally, the power figures seem rather unappealing on paper. The S660 makes just 66 horsepower. That's fine considering it also weighs less than 2,000 pounds, but it could be enough to scare off potential sales.

Honda’s shrinking pool of performance fans shouldn’t feel too bad, however. New Si- and Type R-badged Civic models complete with turbocharged VTEC engines are just around the corner and are expected to be followed soon by a new mid-engine sports car.

But it's probably ignored the one area you wanted the dinky roadster tuned

We are big, big fans of the Honda S660 here at Top Gear. It’s as small and sweet as sports cars get, even if, with less power than a Fiat Panda, it’s not particularly quick.

Prime for some tuning, you’d think, and Honda has done so with this new Modulo X version. There’s sharper, five-way adjutable suspension. More powerful brakes. A semblance of aerodynamics in its design. Fancier lights and interior trim. It’s a more assertive, sportier S660.

But it’s no more powerful. The dinky little S660 is designed to Japanese Kei car regulations, see, so its 660cc engine size and 63bhp power output can’t be tweaked at the factory. Given it’s turbocharged, though, we’re sure you could give it a bit of a tickle once you got it home.

The Modulo X is pricey, mind, costing 2,850,120 yen, or just shy of £20,000. That’s a stark £6,000 hike on a basic S660, which is something of a bargain for a rear-driven, mid-engined roadster. And no, it’s still not coming to the UK. Boo.