Melkus showing GT, GTS versions of RS2000 at Top Marques Monaco

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.

[Source: Melkus via World Car Fans]