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Who Could Say No to YES roadster?

13 360 views Feb 7, 2008

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Automakers are known to spend millions on their auto show stands, surrounding their new products with lavish displays and draping them with attractive, young models. So Chicago Auto Show-goers might be forgiven if they walk right by one small stand. Forget the models. There’s not even a curtain. Just two small cars, standing nose-to-tail, right near the bathrooms at McCormick Place.

Even so, that’s a pretty big deal for Yes! North America, which is making its U.S. debut at this year’s Chicago show. The two-seat roadsters are actually the work of Funke & Will AG, a German engineering firm that conceived the idea in an old aircraft hangar, near Dresden, Germany.

Looking a bit like the child of a Lotus Elise and Honda S2000, the company’s second-generation, open-air offering is available in turbo and naturally-aspirated form. With blower, the car’s 3.2-liter V-6 will make 355 horsepower. The engine is mated to a 6-speed stick, the transmission linked to the rear wheels.

Using an aluminum spaceframe and a simple, manual fabric top, the YES weighs in at just 1962 pounds. That translates into a massive power-to-weight ratio. The turbo model launches from 0-100 kmh (0-62.5 mph) in just 3.9 seconds, and all the way up to 200 kmh (125 mph) in 11.8 seconds, with a top speed of 174 miles an hour.

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The naturally-aspirated YES turns out a still impressive 255-hp, and hits 100 kmh in 4.9 seconds. Its top speed is 158 mph.

You’ll have to struggle through some god-awful translations, should you get your hands on the company’s catalogue, and don’t expect to place an order, at least not until late February, “round about,” explains YES executive Ingolf Hanich, when the first six U.S., and one Canadian, dealers will be announced.

Exclusivity is going to be as much a selling point as performance, explained Hanich. Last year, Funke & Will produced a grand total of 120 YES! roadsters, and it is shooting for just 50 more in North America, this year.

How much? A modest $77,995 for the base car, $97,995 for the YES Turbo.

At that price, who could say no to YES?

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2008 Chicago Auto Show. Big things from the City by the Lake. (2/7/2008)

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Comments (13)

  1. brian Posted: 2/7/2008 9:16pm PST

    Um, for $76,000 I can get a well-equipped Mini Cooper S and a Lotus Elise...
    ...and for $93,000, I can get two Lotus Elises. (Loti Elisi?)

    Yes?
    No...
     
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  2. John Posted: 2/8/2008 9:26am PST

    why not just buy an Audi TT Cabrio?
     
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  3. mike Posted: 2/8/2008 11:30am PST

    An interesting car. I am all about minimalist design and ferocious performance. But for the money? No, Give me an Ariel Atom any day of the week.
     
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  4. Dee Posted: 2/8/2008 1:32pm PST

    I saw one in person last year at an event at Road Atlanta. Fit and finish were oaky on an obviously early car but the power-to-weight ratio sounded great ......and the car sounded pretty good, too.
     
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  5. Fred Bonacci Posted: 2/8/2008 3:09pm PST

    I rather have the Corvette.
     
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  6. Andy Strauber Posted: 2/8/2008 5:21pm PST

    for $93000,, I would rather have a Tesla
     
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  7. William J Toensing Posted: 2/9/2008 6:46am PST

    I have to say "NO" to any new car that costs $30,000 let alone $75,000 to $90,000. I don't need a car that goes 0 to 60 in 4 or less seconds. If I had that kind of money, I would go for a Porsche 911 or other Porsche. I would be satisfied with a Saturn Sky, Pontiac Solstice, or Mazda Miata for much less money.
     
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  8. billgreen Posted: 2/9/2008 7:42am PST

    a blower is a supercharger, not a turbo
     
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  9. UtahLuxury.com Posted: 2/9/2008 6:23pm PST

    I would say yes to a yes... if it were given to me. What I want is the new Fisker sports car that goes 0-60 in less than 4 and gets 50 MPG!!
     
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  10. Car Parts Guy Posted: 2/10/2008 8:44pm PST

    Cool car, but at that price why not just splurge another $15,000 and get the Tesla Roadster? Similar performance, but with a cool factor that the Yes doesn't have.
     
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  11. Paul Corsa Posted: 2/11/2008 5:04pm PST

    I'd do the Monster Miata thing with a Roush Ford V8 in a Miata and spend the rest 50K or so traveling the U.S.
     
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  12. DonYan Posted: 2/11/2008 7:41pm PST

    YES it's expensive, Yes it's uggly (Ach!!!), Yes I don't like...should be called NULL !!!
    DonYan
     
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  13. Tote Posted: 2/12/2008 6:58pm PST

    Hey billgreen,
    A blower is a supercharger. A turbo is a supercharger. However you drive it, a supercharger is a blower.

    Also, I agree with DonYan it is uggly, vastly overpriced, and NO would have been a better name.

    At least it runs, something that cannot be said for the GM Volt or Denali XT.

    Tote
     
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