RUF Unveils Rodeo Concept and Production SCR in Germany
Want to go play in the dirt or on the street? RUF has you covered either way, with plenty of power and grip packed into a classic-looking package.
The “safari” trend is rapidly approaching its inevitable apex, but that doesn’t mean that off-road 911s aren’t here to stay. In fact, RUF has just shown us that there’s more that one way to play in the dirt with your Porsche.
This week, RUF Automobile GmbH unveiled a new concept car at their headquarters in Pfaffenhausen, Germany. The aggressive-looking car has been dubbed the RUF Rodeo. According to marketing director Estonia Ruf, “The Rodeo Concept combines that passion for cars with the love of western culture – an appreciation I found while studying in Oklahoma, USA. This car is inspired by some of our favorite people and our love for the countryside.”
Unlike a typical safari-style build, the Rodeo makes full use of the smooth, aerodynamic bodywork RUF is well-known for. A closer look, though, will reveal a subtly raised ride height as well as all-terrain tires wrapped around large-diameter (at least by classic 911 standards) split five spoke wheels. The long-travel suspension, coupled with a four wheel drive system, should make this thing an absolute terror on dirt and gravel roads.
Ride ‘Em Cowboy
Bull riders in Oklahoma may have been the car’s primary inspiration, but to us, it looks like RUF designed a car for the next “Mad Max” movie. That’s not a bad thing at all — we definitely approve.
RUF also showed off the first production example of their latest SCR supercar. It’s powered by a 4.0 liter normally-aspirated flat six engine producing 510 horsepower and 346 lb/ft of torque. That powerful engine is backed up by a six-speed manual transmission for what RUF calls an “optimal mechanical feel.”
Thanks to its high-tech carbon fiber monocoque construction, it weighs in at just over 2,750 pounds. RUF quotes its top speed at a mind-melting 199 miles per hour. That’s quite impressive for a car whose basic design dates back to the early 1960s. Of course, we wouldn’t expect anything less from RUF. After all, they’ve been making Porsches better and faster for decades.
Photos: RUF
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