Young Engineers Sportscar Explained

Young Engineers Sportscar
Founded:September 2000[1]
Defunct:April 2009
Fate:Liquidation[2]
Founder:Herbert Funke
Philipp Will
Key People:Oliver Schweizer
Marco Kunz
Parent:Funke & Will AG
Location City:Großenhain
Location Country:Germany
Industry:Automotive

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

History

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

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

Clubsport

Young Engineers Sportscar should not be confused with HSV ClubSport.

YES! Clubsport
Manufacturer:Funke & Will AG
Production:2001–2006
Class:Sports car (S)
Body Style:2-door roadster
Doors:Scissor
Engine:1.8L inline 4
Transmission:5-speed manual
Layout:RMR
Wheelbase:2,354 mm (92.7 in)
Width:1,852 mm (72.9 in)
Length:3,629 mm (142.9 in)
Height:1,150 mm (45.3 in)
Weight:790 kg (1741.6 lbs)
Related:YES! Roadster (first generation)
YES! Cup/R
Successor:YES! 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

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

First generation (2003–2006)

YES! Roadster (first generation)
Manufacturer:Funke & Will AG
Production:2003–2006
Class:Sports car (S)
Body Style:2-door roadster
Doors:Scissor
Engine:1.8L inline 4
Transmission:5-speed manual
Layout:RMR
Wheelbase:2,354 mm (92.7 in)
Width:1,852 mm (72.9 in)
Length:3,629 mm (142.9 in)
Height:1,150 mm (45.3 in)
Weight:790 kg (1741.6 lbs)
Related:YES! Clubsport
YES! Cup/R

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

Second generation (2006–2009)

YES! Roadster (second generation)
Manufacturer:Funke & Will AG
Production:2006–2009
Class:Sports car (S)
Body Style:2-door roadster
Doors:Scissor
Engine:3.2L V6
Transmission:5-speed automatic
6-speed manual
Layout:RMR
Wheelbase:2,450 mm (96.5 in)
Width:1,810 mm (71.3 in)
Length:3,810 mm (150 in)
Height:1,240 mm (48.8 in)
Weight:892 kg (1,966.5 lbs)
Predecessor:YES! 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

YES! Cup/R
Manufacturer:Funke & Will AG
Production:2003–2006
Body Style:0-door roadster
Engine:1.8L inline 4
Transmission:5-speed manual
Layout:RMR
Wheelbase:2,354 mm (92.7 in)
Width:1,852 mm (72.9 in)
Length:3,629 mm (142.9 in)
Height:1,150 mm (45.3 in)
Weight:585 kg (1289.7 lbs)
Related:YES! Clubsport

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]

Notes and References

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