Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Germany's Melkus files for bankruptcy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/germanys-melkus-files-for-bankruptcy/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/germanys-melkus-files-for-bankruptcy/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/germanys-melkus-files-for-bankruptcy/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Melkus RS2000 in black - profile

Another boutique maker of compact sports coupes has filed for bankruptcy in Germany. Melkus was a company we always enjoyed seeing at European auto shows. You never knew where the company would be - all of a sudden you'd notice a sleek, lissome coupe with open gullwing doors and you'd go, "Ah, there you are." That won't be happening anymore unless a white knight shows up: Melkus has reportedly filed for bankruptcy in a Dresden court, citing a lack of sales for its dire cash position.

Six year ago, Sepp Melkus, the grandson of the man who built the original Melkus sports cars from 1969 to 1980, restarted the company. The planned run was 25 examples a year at €115,000 ($143,000 U.S.), which would get customers either 270 horsepower from a Toyota 1.8-liter turbocharged four or up to 325 hp from a Volkswagen 2.0-liter turbo (enough to dash from zero to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds). Turns out that tweaking a Lotus Elise, which the Melkus RS2000 is based on, and charging six figures in today's economy wasn't the way to go. The company isn't completely giving up yet, but it joins Artega in the search for a Mr. or Ms. Big to replenish the coffers and keep the lights from going out for good.

Germany's Melkus files for bankruptcy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptcydresdenmelkusmelkus bankruptcymelkus rs2000peter melkusrs2000sepp melkusTue, 21 Aug 2012 17:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20305869/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/21/germanys-melkus-files-for-bankruptcy/20305869/article-detail.xml 20305869 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/melkusbk_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/melkusbk.jpg <![CDATA[Melkus lacquers up RS2000 Black Edition for Geneva debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/29/melkus-lacquers-up-rs2000-black-edition-for-geneva-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/29/melkus-lacquers-up-rs2000-black-edition-for-geneva-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/29/melkus-lacquers-up-rs2000-black-edition-for-geneva-debut/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Melkus RS2000 Black Edition

What's the difference between black and piano black? Lacquer, and lots of it. Whether they're making an actual piano or trimming out a car to the same effect, craftsman will typically apply six layers of clearcoat to give the wood that deep, lustrous shine (compared to the three layers featured on high-end auto bodies). When applied to cars, it's usually done as trim on the interior dashboard, but with the RS2000 Black Edition, Melkus has finished the entire car that way.

Now if you haven't heard of Melkus, don't worry - it's not exactly one of the top automakers in the world. It's more of a niche manufacturer along the lines of Wiesmann, Artega or Veritas, which are also based in Germany. Melkus makes just one model, the RS2000 that we first caught up with at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The small gull-winged shape packs a 325-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four for a 4.5-second sprint to 62 mph and an autobahn-crunching 168 mph top end.

In addition to the deeply lacquered paintjob, the Black Edition gets a carbon-fiber aero kit, black leather and Alcantara interior with orange highlights and a long list of optional extras. Follow the jump for the press release and scope out the bevy of high-res images in the gallery.

Continue reading Melkus lacquers up RS2000 Black Edition for Geneva debut

Melkus lacquers up RS2000 Black Edition for Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Melkus RS2000 GTS
Melkus RS2000 GTS - Click above for image gallery

We were suitably impressed a couple of years ago at the Frankfurt Motor Show where we stumbled upon the Melkus RS2000. The gullwing sportscar is based on the Lotus Elise and built by a historic East German nameplate revived by the son and grandson of its founder. That same marque has now rolled up at the Top Marques show in Monaco with more powerful variants.

Replacing the Toyota-sourced, 270-horsepower, 1.8-liter four from the Elise on which it's based, the GT and GTS versions of the Melkus RS2000 pack a 2.0-liter turbo four - reportedly sourced from a "well-known German manufacturer" (we're looking at you, Volkswagen) - in 300- and 350-hp guises, respectively. With only 2,145 pounds to schlepp around, the new engine should be good for a 4.5 or 3.9-second 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time, while a new carbon-fiber aero kit helps it look the part.


Gallery: Melkus RS2000 GTS


Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Melkus RS2000


[Source: Melkus via World Car Fans]

Melkus showing GT, GTS versions of RS2000 at Top Marques Monaco originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.


Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Melkus RS2000



Frankfurt 2009: Melkus RS2000 provides thrills with history for big money originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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East German sports car builder Melkus, founded by designer and racecar driver Heinz Melkus, reopened its doors under the direction of Peter and Sepp Melkus as Melkus Sports Car Kg in May 2006. Currently starting production of a limited edition reproduction of the marque's RS 1000, originally produced between 1968 and 1979, the father and son team are planning an all-new sports car for launch in 2008.

The RS 2000 evokes many of the styling cues of the RS 1000, notably its gull-wing doors. Prototypes will be developed by Melkus in cooperation with the Technical University of Dresden beginning in January 2007, with the production version scheduled to for its debut in the spring of 2008.

The RS 2000 is envisioned as a lightweight, mid-engined two-seater coupe built on a tube-frame chassis with integrated roll bar. The suspension design follows current racecar practice, featuring dual a-arms front and rear, with pushrods actuating inboard-mounted springs and dampers. Powered by a so-far-unspecified four-cylinder engine putting out between 130 and 200 hp through a six-speed transmission with a target weight of less than 2,200 lb, the RS 2000 should sprint from 0-62 mph in about 5 seconds.

Melkus plans to limit production of its hand-built cars to around 25 per year, with a target price in the neighborhood of 75,000 Euro (about $95,000). More pics after the jump.

[Source: Melkus via MotorAuthority.com]

Continue reading Melkus marque lives again

Melkus marque lives again originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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