One of the most exclusive vehicles on display at this year’s Chicago Auto Show was the YES! Roadster. Produced by Funke & Will AG, the YES! Roadster 3.2 and YES! Roadster 3.2 Turbo will be available to U.S. buyers for the first time.

While graduate students in automotive technology at the University of Cologne, Herbert Funke and Philipp Will pursued their dream of building a lightweight sports car, which resulted in the first-generation YES! Clubsport 1.8, a pure sports car with no windows, trunk, doors or roof. The name YES! is derived from “Young Engineers Sportscar.”

The YES! Roadster 3.2 is not quite as bare-bones as the original Clubsport, but it remains a lightweight, minimalist car. Amenities such as entertainment systems, leather seats, air conditioning or a hardtop are only available as options, in consideration of drivers who want the light weight and performance focus.

On sale since 2006 in Europe, 80 of the second-generation cars have now been produced. Just 200 of the first-generation YES! models were produced over a five year period. The company plans to have the capacity to produce up to 250 cars per year by 2010.

The YES! Roadster 3.2 is powered by a 255-horsepower 3.2-liter Volkswagen engine and weighs less than 2,000 lbs, which results in acceleration from zero to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds.

When equipped with the 355-horsepower turbocharged engine, the YES! Roadster 3.2 Turbo can reach 60 mph in a supercar-like 3.8 seconds.

Pricing for the U.S. market begins at $77,995 for the YES! Roadster 3.2 and $97,995 for the YES! Roadster 3.2 Turbo.

Optional extras include an automatic transmission ($4,995), AM/FM/CD audio system ($995), multi-media system with DVD touchscreen navigation and Bluetooth ($3,995), air conditioning ($2,995), leather interior ($4,995), sound insulation ($795) and hardtop ($6,999).