RUF always manage something interesting for the Geneva Motor Show 2017. This year is no different with a brand new 710 hp RUF CTR, based upon a 1987 Porsche 911. RUF have retro-modded the classic Porsche to create something very special. It pays homage to RUF’s 1987 CTR Yellow Bird having taken 5 years of development.
The 2017 RUF CTR is the first RUF car engineered and designed by RUF. It also incorporates the first rear-engine carbon fiber monocoque chassis. Under the rear hatch sits a twin-turbocharged 3.6 litre flat-six engine generating 710 hp and 880 Nm of torque. The RUF engine uses a dry-sump lubrication system to provide constant oil supply and pressure.
Power is routed to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox and a limited slip differential. It manages a zero to 100 km/h sprint time of just 3.5 seconds and a 200 km/h in just under 9 seconds.
The RUF CTR is also special for being the first RUF sports car to be based on a chassis completely of the firm’s own design. The front crash structure is built form steel with an integrated roll cage. The suspension components include double-wishbone suspension arms in a pushrod configuration for both the front and rear axles.
The complete package gets a dry weight of just 1,200 kg. The bodywork is now also formed in carbon fibre but with classic Yellow Bird looks.
RUF have fitted set of center-locking 19-inch forged alloy wheels with tires measuring 245/35ZR19 in the front and 305/30ZR19 in the rear. The rims hide a set of perforated carbon cermamic brake discs measuring 380 mm at the front and 250 mm at the rear. They are clamped by a set of six-piston fixed callipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear.
Inside, things are minimalist. The CTR is a pure two-seater with lightweight materials throughout. Alcantara is the main surface together with leather and carbon fibre. RUF have tried to maintain a retro look despite having carbon fiber seats and aluminium pedals. A three-spoke steering wheel and analog dial-type gauges help keep the retro look.
Production will being in 2018 at RUF’s Pfaffenhausen, Germany. Just 30 will be made available plus the prototype model.
Automotive websites and article writers should start to ween themselves off headlines like “710 HP and 223 MPH”. It does the car and the reader a disservice. It puts the reader back in the same “numbers” mentality that this car is not about. “223? that’s not as high as XYZ”. The headline would be better as “return of a legend in a carbon monocoque” or say something about the manual transmission. I can’t think of another car with a carbon monocoque mated to a stick-shift manual.