Autoblog

Geneva 2011: Ruf Rt 12 R is a 230-mph bolide

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:40:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Porsche, MISC

Ruf Rt 12 R - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche makes some amazingly capable and exciting machines. The German speedmeisters at Ruf are fans of those cars, but they like to take them, lock them in their ~~insane asylum~~ factory and release them back into the world as roadgoing rocketships. The company's latest creation, unveiled on the 2011 Geneva Motor Show floor, is the Ruf Rt 12 R.

Based on the (quite pedestrian by comparison) Porsche 911 Turbo, the Ruf Rt 12 R begins life with the stock 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine. That unit is good for 500 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque (516 lb-ft with the overboost function). After Ruf gets its mitts on the powerplant, output swells to 730 hp and 693 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired to Porsche's six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel-drive system. And if you're a rich lunatic, you can opt for rear-wheel drive.

Ruf also works its magic on the body of the Rt 12 R. Carbon fiber is applied to the front fenders, hood, luggage cover, seats and is available optionally on the roof. The side and rear windows are plastic instead of glass to further aid in the quest for lightness. This weight reduction, along with the massive increase in power, has helped Ruf claim an impressive 230 mph top speed for the Rt 12 R.

Gallery: Ruf Rt-12R: Geneva 2011

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Ruf Rt 12 R is a 230-mph bolide

Geneva 2011: Ruf Rt 12 R is a 230-mph bolide originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche buffs go searching for great German beer... deep in the heart of Texas?

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Porsche

A good roadtrip needs a few items for success; great people, interesting destinations and, of course, the right vehicles. We can't vouch for the people on a personal level in this tale, but Autoweek took on a Texas roadtrip and seems to have gotten the ingredients just right. How do six tuned Porsches, 800 miles and four breweries sound? As long as the drinking is done when the driving is finished (which of course it was), then you would be correct to say it sounds like heaven on earth.

Autoweek's Jeff Bolton embarked on a quest for good German beer, using good German sports cars to shuttle him around the Great State of Texas. Starting in Dallas, the crew moves about until they end up in Shiner, Texas, where they chat with long-time brewmaster Jimmy Mauric.

If roadtrips were eligible for awards, this Texas Porsche beer run would be an early front-runner for Best of 2011. Head over to Autoweek to read about the trip, and be sure to check out the video as well.

[Source: Autoweek]

Porsche buffs go searching for great German beer... deep in the heart of Texas? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ruf drops the roof on 911 Targa-inspired Roadster

Noah Joseph — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Porsche

Ruf Roadster - Click above for image gallery

In the market for a 911? Lord knows Porsche has more than enough variants to choose from. And a fair few of them - like the Sport Classic and the Speedster - draw their inspiration from 911s of yore. But if those aren't to your liking, venerable tuning house Ruf has a new option at your disposal.

Ruf calls it a Roadster, but it takes its cues (as well as its form) from the original 1967 Porsche 911 Targa. The Ruf Roadster features a solid roll bar that offers the structural rigidity of a coupe with a variety of configurations for open-air driving. Because the roof panels and rear window can be removed separately, the Roadster can be driven with the roof open and the rear closed, the rear open and the roof closed, or completely open or closed. You could even take one of the split roof panels off to let the sun shine in on the driver while keeping the front-seat passenger sheltered.

Buyers can choose from naturally aspirated (400-horsepower) or turbocharged (560hp) engines, with prices starting at €195,000 (approximately $275k at today's conversion rates). Hey, nobody said flexibility came cheap.

Gallery: Ruf Roadster

[Source: PistonHeads]

Ruf drops the roof on 911 Targa-inspired Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ruf developing all-electric Porsche Cayman

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Hybrid, Performance, Green, Supercars, Porsche, Ruf

Despite the fact that Lotus seems to have the inside line on electric sportscars, longtime Porsche tuning firm Ruf has chosen the Cayman for its new electric supercar. Comparisons to the Tesla Roadster are sure to come up, and we're happy to oblige. Compared to the latest Tesla drivetrain, the Ruf is expected to debut with a bit less overall power (150kW compared to 185kW) but will have considerably more twisting force (650Nm versus 375Nm). In other words, if the Ruf were a hatchet, the Tesla may be a scalpal, so to speak. A lithium-ion battery pack of unknown output will provide power to the motor. We don't yet know if the Ruf will sport multiple gears, but it seems distinctly possible in order to attain its planned top speed of around 125 miles per hour. We'd bet that any comparisons between the two electric sportscars will end at price, as the Ruf is sure to command an even heftier sum than the $100k Tesla Roadster. We'll find out next month what that price is and if it's worth it. Uh never mind... of course it'll be worth it.

NOTE: the photo above is of the RUF CT3 supercar, which is not based on the Cayman but sure does look like it.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]

Ruf developing all-electric Porsche Cayman originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: A four-part history of RUF

Drew Phillips — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:05:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Performance, Videos, Supercars, Porsche, Ruf

click above image for a history lesson on RUF

Ahh, the joy of YouTube. Every once in a while we come upon a jewel like this - a four-part series on the history of Ruf, perhaps the most famous of Porsche tuners. The documentary features Alois Ruf recounting the history of the company, starting with the formation of AUTO RUF in 1939 and ending with the development of the new CTR3 supercar. In between are the details of Alois' love of motorsport, the top speed testing of the Yellow Bird and CTR2, and the company's philosophy on restoration and working on customer cars. It's a full 30+ minutes of footage, but it's worth it even if you aren't a huge Porsche or Ruf fan. You can watch all four clips after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: A four-part history of RUF

VIDEO: A four-part history of RUF originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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