Young Engineers Sportscar

(Redirected from YES! Roadster)

Yes! (Young Engineers Sportscar; stylized as YES!) was a brand of high-performance sports cars manufactured by Funke & Will AG in Germany.

Young Engineers Sportscar
IndustryAutomotive
FoundedSeptember 2000[1]
FounderHerbert Funke
Philipp Will
DefunctApril 2009
FateLiquidation[2]
Headquarters,
Key people
Oliver Schweizer
Marco Kunz
ParentFunke & Will AG

History

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Herbert Funke & Philipp Will first designed the YES! sports car in their diploma thesis while attending Cologne University of Applied Sciences. The exterior design was developed by Oliver Schweizer. The first prototype was shown off at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1999 as the YES! Clubsport.[3] Funke & Will AG was then founded in September of 2000 due to the demand for the Clubsport. Starting in 2001, the YES! models were handmade in a restored hangar at the Großenhain airport.[4]

In February 2009, Funke & Will AG filed for bankruptcy[5], which led to the liquidation of the company in April of that year. Marco Kunz, who was one of the first owners of the YES! Roadster 3.2, bought the assets of Yes! and founded YES! Beteiligungs- und Besitzgesellschaft mbH. Replacement parts were produced and plans to restart production of the second generation YES! Roadster were made. However, these plans did not come to fruition.[6]

Models

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Three models were produced by Yes!, starting in 2001.

Clubsport

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YES! Clubsport
 
Overview
ManufacturerFunke & Will AG
Production2001–2006
Body and chassis
ClassSports car (S)
Body style2-door roadster
LayoutRMR
DoorsScissor doors
RelatedYES! Roadster (first generation)
YES! Cup/R
Powertrain
Engine1.8L inline 4
Transmission5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,354 mm (92.7 in)
Length3,629 mm (142.9 in)
Width1,852 mm (72.9 in)
Height1,150 mm (45.3 in)
Curb weight790 kg (1741.6 lbs)
Chronology
SuccessorYES! Roadster (second generation)

The first model produced was the YES! Clubsport. This is the road version of the prototype shown in 1999. It featured a 1.8 liter turbocharged inline 4 from Volkswagen producing 281.6 brake horsepower built on an aluminum space frame.[7] The Clubsport was discontinued in 2006, being replaced with the second generation YES! Roadster.[8]

Roadster

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The Roadster was introduced in 2003, being produced alongside (and later replacing) the Clubsport.

First generation (2003–2006)

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YES! Roadster (first generation)
Overview
ManufacturerFunke & Will AG
Production2003–2006
Body and chassis
ClassSports car (S)
Body style2-door roadster
LayoutRMR
DoorsScissor doors
RelatedYES! Clubsport
YES! Cup/R
Powertrain
Engine1.8L inline 4
Transmission5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,354 mm (92.7 in)
Length3,629 mm (142.9 in)
Width1,852 mm (72.9 in)
Height1,150 mm (45.3 in)
Curb weight790 kg (1741.6 lbs)

The first generation Roadster featured the same engine and body as the Clubsport.[9]

Second generation (2006–2009)

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YES! Roadster (second generation)
 
Overview
ManufacturerFunke & Will AG
Production2006–2009
Body and chassis
ClassSports car (S)
Body style2-door roadster
LayoutRMR
DoorsScissor doors
Powertrain
Engine3.2L V6
Transmission5-speed automatic
6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,450 mm (96.5 in)
Length3,810 mm (150 in)
Width1,810 mm (71.3 in)
Height1,240 mm (48.8 in)
Curb weight892 kg (1,966.5 lbs)
Chronology
PredecessorYES! Clubsport

The second generation was introduced in 2006. It is larger than its predecessors, featuring a 3.2L V6 from Audi[10], either being naturally aspirated or turbocharged, rather than the inline 4 used in the previous models. All automatic models feature the naturally aspirated version while the manual could be ordered with either the naturally aspirated or turbocharged variants.

Cup/R

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YES! Cup/R
 
Overview
ManufacturerFunke & Will AG
Production2003–2006
Body and chassis
ClassTrack day car
Body style0-door roadster
LayoutRMR
RelatedYES! Clubsport
Powertrain
Engine1.8L inline 4
Transmission5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,354 mm (92.7 in)
Length3,629 mm (142.9 in)
Width1,852 mm (72.9 in)
Height1,150 mm (45.3 in)
Curb weight585 kg (1289.7 lbs)

The Cup/R was introduced in 2003 as a track-only version of the Roadster. Many components have been stripped out to reduce it's weight, such as the doors. It also featured a more powerful engine, which now produced 340 brake horsepower.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Yes, da kommt Freude auf!". Auto Bild. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "Funke & Will AG, Grossenhain". Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "YES! Clubsport". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "Young Engineers Sportscar (YES!): Ein Traum deutscher Ingenieurskunst". Autolexikon.net. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  5. ^ Amtsgericht Dresden Aktenzeichen 534 IN 243/09
  6. ^ "Roadster zum Schnäppchenpreis". Sächsische Zeitung. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  7. ^ "2001 Yes Clubsport". Supercars.net. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  8. ^ "YES! Clubsport". Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  9. ^ "2003 Yes Roadster". Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  10. ^ "YES! Roadster". Convertible Car Magazine. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  11. ^ "YES! Cup R". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved November 9, 2024.