Melkus RS 2000 History
A modern revival sports car launched at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show by Heinz's son Peter Melkus — lightweight two-seater with Volkswagen or Opel power, ended by insolvency in 2012.
Photo: “Melkus RS2000 Front AME” by Thomas doerfer / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0
History
In 2006, Peter Melkus — son of the RS 1000's creator — announced plans to revive the Melkus name through a new company, Melkus Engineering GmbH, based in Dresden. The RS 2000 premiered at the 2009 Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) as a thoroughly modern lightweight sports car that consciously referenced the gullwing silhouette of its predecessor.
Unlike the RS 1000's two-stroke Wartburg engine, the RS 2000 used conventional Western powertrains: a turbocharged Volkswagen four-cylinder engine producing around 150–200 hp in base form, with the range-topping GTS variant reaching approximately 350 hp. The car was built on a tubular space frame with composite body panels, keeping weight around 975–1,021 kg depending on specification. Planned production was 25 cars per year. Variants included the RS 2000 GT and GTS (both introduced 2011). Melkus Engineering filed for insolvency in August 2012, ending the revival after a small number of cars had been delivered.
Generations
RS 2000 base / GT · RS 2000 / GT
Photo: “Melkus RS2000 Front AME” by Thomas doerfer / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0
Turbocharged Volkswagen-engined lightweight coupe; base and GT trims offered from launch through 2012.
2009 Photo: “2009 Melkus RS 2000” by Rutger van der Maar / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
RS 2000 GTS
Photo: “Melkus RS2000 01 China 2015-04-18” by Navigator84 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
High-output variant (~350 hp) introduced 2011; lightest and fastest RS 2000, ended by the 2012 insolvency.
Body styles
- Coupe
Notable special editions & performance variants
RS 2000 Black Edition
A limited appearance package on the RS 2000 platform with distinctive all-black exterior trim.
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the Melkus RS 2000
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