They wanted to relieve Melkus not so long ago. This is a 2006 project for Melkus RS2000.
They wanted to relieve Melkus not so long ago. This is a 2006 project for Melkus RS2000.
Everything has gone suspiciously quiet, though.
Lack of charisma can be fatal.
Visca Catalunya!
That's what I've been talking about...
Melkus RS2000 scale model on show
Melkus was founded by Heinz Melkus back in 1959 in Dresden, East Germany and produced racing cars with Wartburg engines and Trabant parts which competed in the Formula III, Formula Junior and Formula E. One car made it to their production line, the Melkus RS1000 and 101 were produced. In 1979 Heinz Melkus stopped producing the car and in 1986 he closed the doors of the factory and instead started a BMW dealership in Dresden.
Almost 20 years later, Heinz' son and uncle Peter and Sepp Melkus decided to continue the legacy by taking the Melkus RS1000 back into limited production. On November 25th 2006 they officially revealed the RS1000 Special Edition, a copy of the original. Peter Melkus: “A wonderful feeling to finally be able to put it to the street, after so much hard work. It would be great if my father were still here to experience this moment.”
But this is not where Peter and Sepp Melkus stopped, they have also been working hard on the RS1000 successor, the RS2000. Last year we showed you some initial design sketches, and today we can bring you a few more, but on Oktober 13th Melkus will be presenting a 1:4 model of their latest design model. Also on that day the 10th newly built Melkus RS1000 Special Edition will find its way to its owner.
WorldCarFans.com
Some info
Prototype ready in spring 2008
It was always a dream of Heinz Melkus to construct a follow-up model of the legendary RS1000. Now, Peter and Sepp Melkus, son and grandson of the famous constructing engineer and automobile racer are going to realise his dream.
Melkus Sportwagen KG is the firm where the smart sportscar shall be manufactured by hand in small series, just like the production of the limited edition of the RS1000 replica today.
The goal is to produce up to 25 sportscars per year in the Melkus factory. It is planned to  build a new representative factory hall to have enough place for the production and storage.
The development of the RS2000 prototype starts in January 2007 in close cooperation with Sebastian Wolfram (HMW-Designer) and the Technical University Dresden. The ambitious aim until spring 2008 is to present the Melkus RS2000 prototype to the public and to start with the production of the limited series in the same year.
Design Concept
(Sebastian Wolfram, HMW-Designer)
The special challenge concerning the design was to save and perfect the exceptional extravagance of the RS1000.
It was out of any question to touch the stunning curves and shapes of the RS1000. But it was the unique classic design that should be perfected in a gentle way.
We are going to transform the clarity of the surfaces and shapes in a new period of sportscar engineering. It is a reinterpretation of the classic design without the idea of a retrodesign. We perfect facings, tighten outlines and curves, flatten surfaces and form volumes with more emotion.
The proportions are much stronger and sportier because of a bigger package volume. We create an independent and incomparable design with typical notes of the RS1000 and the use of specific modern details (lights, wheels, interieur).
The RS2000 acts well trained and avoids any importunity and aggresiveness. The RS2000 has its own style reasonable in the history of the car. It is an hommage.
Temporary Specifications
Concept
compact coupe with gullwing doors
mid engine concept (diagonally or horizontally)
Dimensions
overall length: 4000cm
overall width: 1800cm   ÂÂ
height: 1120cm
wheel dimension, front: 16 inch
rear: 17 inch
Chassis/Frame
tubular steel skeleton frame with integrated roll-over bar
Traction gear
front and rear axle with double triangular control arm and adjustable stabilizers
inner lying spring and damper unit (adjustable height and stiffness with Pushroads)
Brakes
front: 4 piston disc brake with fixed caliper
rear: 2 piston disc brake with fixed caliper
drilled and ventilated brakediscs
ABS
steelflex brakeline
Steering gear
rack and pinion steering without servo assistance (2-2,5 steering wheel turns)
Car body
bonnet,bootlid and doors made of GRP (glass fibre reinforced plastic)
aluminium underbody
steel or carbon car top
Safety
front carbon crashbox
side impact bars integrated in the doors
roll-over bar
ABS
Engine
4 cylinder in-line engine
up to 2000 ccm
performance between 130-200 PS depending on the version
Clutch
dry single disc clutch
Gear box
6 short stepped gears
Weight
under 1000 kg
Driving performance
top speed: max.250km/h
acceleration 0-100 km/h within 5 sec.
Price
ca. 75.000 EUR
Kinda looks like the offspring of Ferrari and Porsche
"Horsepower sells motor cars, but torque wins motor races."
-Carrol Shelby
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