Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Euro, Porsche
STUDIOTORINO unveils Cayman-based RK Coupe
Alfredo Stola's STUDIOTORINO is publicily unveiling its 2nd creation, the RK Coupe, today at The Quail. Inspired by two very sexy classics, the Dino 246 GT and the Porsche 904, the RK coupe uses the Porsche Cayman as its basis, with engine and mechanical upgrades provided by German supertuner Ruf.
The only body panel that is unchanged in the transformation is the left front fender. Everything else is either new or modified in some way. In the case of the RK Spyder, the most important modifications are to the rear hood and C-pillar.
The Cayman's rear hatch assembly remains, but the piece that it opens and closes is all new. The Cayman's standard sloping rear glass is a thing of the past. In its place as a small upright rear pane, shrouded by flying buttresses that are formed out of the existing pillars. The rear quarter windows are also eliminated, giving the car a side profile that is instantly evocative of the 904, while the new rear glass recalls both the 904 and the Dino.
Another nice touch is the striping on the rear fenders that harkens back to the similar elements on the Carrera Panamericana 550 Spyder. Observant Porsche fans will immediately notice the relocated rear intakes, which now look almost identical to the ones on the original Boxster Concept (these first appeared on the equally stunning STUDIOTORINO RK Spyder).
The RK Coupe is powered by Ruf's blown 3.8L green meanie pictured at right, which gives the car a 0-62 time of 4.3 sec and a top speed of 195 mph. The car's exhaust outlet and filler cap are custom designs made of forged aluminum. Other details include bespoke Tooma wheels (only used on the STUDIOTORINO cars), handmade, hand-painted badges, and a made-to-order cutom interior.Only 49 RK Coupes will be offered for sale. Those buyers will own a serious and striking performance machine that manages to pay homage to two very different marques in a most effective way.
(More Photos after the jump)
[Source: STUDIOTORINO via German Car Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dreesemonkey 3:31PM (8/18/2006)
Someone cue the Supertroopers "Mother of God" image.
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rwdmtparkingonly 3:34PM (8/18/2006)
I actually kind of like the interior color, but Porsche does to order leather dying. What ever happened to Germans liking sleepers, is this car, along with Cayanne posted a while ago, just an ugly way to rebel against that tradition?
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beau 3:45PM (8/18/2006)
Sexxxy!
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Nathan 3:51PM (8/18/2006)
That is HOT
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Howard Kerr 3:51PM (8/18/2006)
This is different, though I'm not so sure I'd call it an improvement. The best thing about it is that it moves the Cayman away from looking like a "junior" 911.
With all the different tuner and coachbuilding firms in Germany, I'm surprized we haven't seen more in the way of "alternate" Cayman bodywork.
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UK-KID 3:51PM (8/18/2006)
Cool as a peice of Engineering Acheivement. But which of you guys would like to drive this little thing past 150MPH.
I did 149 in the New SLK 55 and let me tell you, IT WAS BLOODY SCARY !!!
I am begining to rethink the sense of letting these Pocket Rockets go over 120 as any kind of crash over those speeds in one of those will result in Hair, Teeth & Eyeballs Everywhere.
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raf 3:52PM (8/18/2006)
BARF! Check out that interior! The seats are kind of a pretty shade...but the dash? It looks like my friend's mid-90s 240sx! Dashboards in colors other than beige or black are SUCH a mistake!
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Dan 4:01PM (8/18/2006)
Absolutley beautiful!
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ruggels 4:03PM (8/18/2006)
i'd hit it, in a heart beat, it's the most attractive cayman i've seen, and i'm a huge fan of the dino they used as an inspiration so i'm even more tickled pink... though i'll disagree with raf (if he's referring to the 94ish 240sx) it doesn't look that similar to the dash at all (walked down stairs, opened the door to the garage, unlocked the 240sx and checked :P), unless two tone makes it the same, in which case every red car looks like a ferrari
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ku 4:04PM (8/18/2006)
"The only body panel that is unchanged in the transformation is the left front fender."
what was wrong with the right one?!
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hegge 4:15PM (8/18/2006)
"what was wrong with the right one?!"
The fuel filler cap was on the right one, they have probably moved it somewhere else.
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doglet 4:17PM (8/18/2006)
this just seems to be different for the sake of difference. its certainly less aerodynamic with that vertical rear glass. id rather have the regular cayman with the mechanical upgrades. i prefer the simple clean look of the stock cayman to this collection of dozens of styling cues. this belongs at hot import nightz, not my driveway.
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james 4:21PM (8/18/2006)
ku: note the moved fuel filler. normally it's on the right front fender.
-james
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&& 4:28PM (8/18/2006)
Goodness, they actually managed to make the Cayman look good. Not bad.
It's like they funnelled all the ugliness from the stock Cayman into that utterly hideous interior.
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JSFORBES 4:49PM (8/18/2006)
Cool car, ugly wheels.
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guyomatic 5:05PM (8/18/2006)
ruf..ruf...
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Big Al 6:06PM (8/18/2006)
Whaddaya know, a Cayman that doesn't look like sh*t!
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joe 6:35PM (8/18/2006)
the wheels need to be changed. the green interior is a nasty color. otherwise, sexy.
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chris 7:36PM (8/18/2006)
Kinda reminds me of the old 911's, but with out the back panel things...still looks alote like the cayman to me, in the basics.. but much better and i'm sure they'll make a few other interior colors, i dont really that one though
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cams 8:15PM (8/18/2006)
That's a hot and sexy car. It looks way better than my Porche !!
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