The new 2017 Ruf CTR pays homage to the original 1987 Yellow Bird
Ruf CTR: 700hp Beast Flips the Yellow Bird to New-Fangled Cars
The 2017 Ruf CTR marks an important step forward for the distinct German car manufacturer.
It might look like a Porsche, but Porsche buffs will immediately decipher something is off. Instead, it’s a tribute and a giant middle finger to the digitization of vehicles.
The German car company has made quite the name for itself since the ’80s. That’s when it started turning out modified Porsches that can stomp Ferraris. Not content to keep up with that exciting status quo, Ruf is getting creative.
Instead of just reworking a Porsche, Ruf decided to create its own vehicle from the ground up.
This Is Not a Porsche
The Ruf CTR definitely tips its hat to the 930 Turbo. Many of the body panels come close to what you’ll find on a classic forced-induction, air-cooled 911. Your average person on the street might believe it’s a fully restored 930. Slight details give the farce away. Still, beholding this automotive work of art is a real treat.
I love the whale tale, a styling detail we don’t see on modern cars, until now. The wondrously ridiculous nature of the feature is awe-inspiring. It pairs well with the yellow paint.
Ruf even went retro with the plain five-spoke wheels. The simplistic nature of the overall design is refreshing. We’re living in a world of angry car designs and wheels that look as if they’re made to maim passersby. Blame BMW for starting the fire, or Toyota for stoking it, but RUF is doing its part to be a trendkill.
Under the Skin
What’s under the skin goes well beyond anything you’ve ever been able to get on a Porsche 911. Instead of a 911 chassis, the CTR rides on a carbon fiber monocoque. Integrated right into it are steel reinforcements for crash-worthiness, plus a steel roll cage.
Those Porsche-like body panels aren’t what they seem. They’re made of carbon fiber. That means you get a mixture of strength and lightweighting. In fact, Ruf says the CTR tips the scale at just 2,640 pounds.
Helping to keep the CTR grounded is a double wishbone pushrod suspension, which was developed by Ruf. Those classic wheels measure 19 inches, and are wrapped with 245/35ZR19 tires in the front and 305/30ZR19 tires for the rear. Perforated and vented carbon ceramic brake discs team up with six-piston calipers for excellent stopping power and reliability.
If you haven’t guessed by now, this is still a genuine rear-engine car. Nobody has ever created a rear-engined car with a monocoque carbon fiber chassis. And no, it’s not an air-cooled engine, which somehow is the wet dream of far too many people. This water-cooled 3.6-liter flat-six is nevertheless impressive.
The new Ruf CTR has a twin-turbo system and dry sump, so you can whip through sweeping turns without worry. This engine throttles out a mighty 710 hp and 649 lb.-ft. of torque.
As a true enthusiast vehicle, you can only get the CTR with a six-speed manual. If that offends you, go drive a GT3 with an automatic and cry to yourself. Rear-wheel drive is also standard, so no all-wheel drive for snowy hooning fun.
Still, RUF says this thing can get moving from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.5 seconds. The top speed is nothing short of amazing at 233 mph. Did I mention it has handsome 930-like styling?
Stripped Down Interior
Don’t mistake this for a luxury car. You get two seats and not a whole lot else. Drivers read analog gauges, the way it was meant to be. There’s also a three-spoke steering wheel like what you find in race cars, showing this car is made to be driven.
There’s no electric power-assisted steering, blind-spot monitoring or other modern aids. Instead, you get a true analog experience from behind the wheel.
At a time when cars are becoming increasingly digital, the difference is stark.
A Tribute to Yellow Bird
According to Ruf, the fact the CTR looks like a 930 Turbo has nothing to do with copying Porsche. Instead, it’s all about paying tribute to the 1987 CTR Yellowbird.
That was the car that put RUF on the map for many enthusiasts. Road & Track used it in a top speed shootout. It worked over the then-impressive list of supercar competitors, including the Porsche 959 and Lamborghini Countach 5000S, shocking everyone.
Grab Your Checkbook
Since the CTR is an analog car in a digital world, grabbing your checkbook to buy one would be appropriate. No debit or credit cards.
The new Ruf CTR made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. It was one of 30 that will initially be built. If you want a piece of this throwback monster, it’s going to set you back over $1 million.
So if that’s a little bit out of your budget, you can still get a slick Porsche or one of the best sports cars under 100K if that’s what you’re looking for.
