Frankfurt 2009: Melkus RS2000 provides thrills with history for big money
by Jonathon Ramsey on Sep 16th 2009 at 2:59PM 
Melkus RS2000 -- Click above for high-res image gallery
Three years ago Melkus, the historic, East German race car builder, released renderings of a gullwing sports car they wanted to have ready in 2009. It always makes us happy to see the passionate guy make big plans and then get them achieved – on time even – and the Melkus RS2000 is the culmination of that achievement. Based on an Elise, it rides on a Melkus-designed aluminum double-wishbone suspension and wears a glass-fiber reinforced polyester body.
Power comes from the 1.8-liter, 16-valve, 4-cylinder Elise tuned up to 270 hp that shifts through a short-throw 6-speed transmission. With a curb weight of 950 kg (2,090 pounds) you can get to 60 in 4.9 seconds. Interiors can be customized as you wish, but the car comes standard with more creature comforts than you'll find in most of its competition, including the Elise. The Melkus' creation did come with a price: the original estimates were for it to cost €75,000; the actual price is €107,500. But what's a little inflation between friends.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
O.Z.Racing_UK 3:03PM (9/16/2009)
Looks like a fitter SLS AMG Gullwing that is in a track-suit.
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Jens 7:08PM (9/16/2009)
Looks like an Elise with gullwing doors... wait the minute...
It is an Elise with gullwing doors... nice rip Melkus
John Johnson 3:09PM (9/16/2009)
I like it... but 270hp, 2000lbs, and only 4.9 to 60?
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vespid82 3:09PM (9/16/2009)
LOL @ Price tag
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Davin Black 8:57AM (9/17/2009)
^^ Best comment on this page.
larry raines 3:11PM (9/16/2009)
how is this significantly different than an Elise? the..............doors...........?
doors...........for an additional $60k...........?
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Satn 3:15PM (9/16/2009)
There's a premium on ugly.
See; Every aftermarket modified luxury sedan (mercs especially)
vespid82 3:14PM (9/16/2009)
"Power comes from the 1.8-liter, 16-valve, 4-cylinder Elise" if be Elise you mean the Toyota 2ZZ-GE, then this is an accurate statement...
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Lucas 3:19PM (9/16/2009)
Proper gullwing doors are the best!
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Dan V 3:39PM (9/16/2009)
Now why would I buy this when I could buy an Exige for half the price
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nhutta 3:44PM (9/16/2009)
Folks, look for Melkus RS 1000 and you will find the whole story behind. The RS 1000 was handcrafted in former GDR with parts from Wartburg 353 and other few cars available in East Germany. After Heinz Melkus died in 2005 his son is trying to continue the story in honor of his father. Not more, not less.
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hashiryu 3:53PM (9/16/2009)
Does it come with a super model girlfriend, unlimited track days for the life of the car and a years worth of blow jobs?
Can't see where the extra ~$60k is going............
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nhutta 4:06PM (9/16/2009)
Girlfriend?! Normally yes. But for you it would be possible to deliver the car with a boy. ;o)
tump 4:01PM (9/16/2009)
How can the performance be exactly the same as the NA Elise base model?
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Sleeveless 4:20PM (9/16/2009)
Seems like more than an extra $60k over an Exige to me. Doesn't that price tag come out to be about $180k at today's exchange rate. Seems to be about a $100k premium. Give me a stock Exige and $100k in cash and I'll make a car that exceeds this one in every measurable performance criteria (and I wouldn't be wasting any of that money on funny doors).
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Taylor. Yes, Taylor. 6:25PM (9/16/2009)
Put $100k into an exige, and you could cut the important numbers in HALF for performance, if not more.
I LOVE the look of the car, but for that price, the thing needs to be fast. They should have spent an extra $10k on performance. That would have been enough to at least make it *seem* worth it.
-Taylor
Patrick 4:32PM (9/16/2009)
The Elise platform, just as my ex-girlfriend of the same name, has been whore'd out to so many manufacturers, that IMO Lotus is beginning to lose its cache.
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lorincdm 9:26PM (9/16/2009)
Melkus is back! Woo!
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