RE: Melkus To Show Hardcore Coupes In Monaco

[Fuelbrother DC]

Beefmeister said:

Why so? Lotus is an established maker, the Evora hailed as one of the best handling cars currently on sale, and has a sonorous V6 lump powering it.

This Melkus has a turbo 4-pot, and no history whatsoever.

My money would be on the fact that Lotus won't give this car a second thought...

1. It's underpinnings are derived from the Elise/Exige -> every sold Melkus is a sold Lotus

2. Melkus HAS a history, a very enthusiastic one, given the fact, that in the GDR a lunatic named "Melkus" (the father of the owner) welded/glued(?) some Trabant/Wartburg to the only thoroughbred race-car communism ever produced (and was allowed to start his own race series!!!).

See it as a modern repetition to take the best handling sportscar Lotus Elise to give birth to an 'east german' hand-made sportscar. I believe the reason for it's price tag is, that they're aiming at older chaps, who fancied the original Melkus RS 1000 - but could never afford one in the GDR. Now is their chance to get something similar in highest build-quality. I guess it should be well put to together for that price.

Even the standard-4-Pot VAG-Engine makes sense in a way, as history shows the original melkus used 'standard'-engines from Wartburg.

For those interested (and understanding a bit german): http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkus

Edited by Fuelbrother DC on Friday 15th April 09:47

[RJDM3]

122,000 Euro????

Dont these manufacturers ever do any market research before they put the car to market. Numpties

[zebedee]

Mark-C said:

I'm always seeing Evoras .... loads of them ... on the A11 near Wymondham mostly

I should be on that road, in an Evora, in a week or so, just to add to your tally if you see me!

[Richard A]

vixen1700 said:

Seems they did Marcos-looking things in the past.

Thing is, this is the Melkus that I'd go for. 70 PS tuned 3-cylinder 2-stroke Wartburg engine (100 PS in the race version) with triple MZ carbs, a weight around 700 KG and a reputation for a good handling. It's all you need on a twisty road. I drove a normal 2-stroke Wartburg estate once and it was strangely willing.

The downside is a constant blue smoke fug out the back.

Edited by Richard A on Friday 15th April 10:47

[robinessex]

Looks like a love child of a Lotus/Noble to me

[Cotty]

I really like it, but then I have a think about hard topped sports cars

[TheOrangePeril]

rb5230 said:

Looks very nice, hopefully it doesn`t sound like a hairdryer like the 2.0t audi lump usually does.

But why cant they think of an original name for themselves rather than using RS2000 or RS200 of which it is not.

The original car was the RS1000, with a 1 litre engine. This is the RS2000. Makes sense, non?

[geoffracing]

Pretty, but not as much as an Elise... so what's the point?

[jibbert]

that is the love child of a GT40 abusing an elise & it is quite special!

[herebebeasties]

Really don't get this. Take an Exige, get someone like Auto-Teknix or PSR Automotive to do you an Audi-conversion on it taking it up to 300bhp. Then get someone to fit out the cabin with more leather. Total cost probably about £60k. Is the different styling really worth £40k plus?

[k-ink]

Yes

[B10]

PH covered this in 2009
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

[AlexiusG55]

Fuelbrother DC said:

the only thoroughbred race-car communism ever produced

Surely the ZIL-112S from 1961 counts? Six-litre V-8, 240 horsepower, 160 mph.