Ruf CTR

The twin-turbo Ruf CTR (Group C, Turbo Ruf) also known as the CTR Yellowbird or simply Yellowbird, was a limited-production, high performance sports car produced by Ruf Automobile of Germany.

Introduced for the 1987 model year and based on the Porsche 911, the CTR featured an enlarged and highly tuned version of Porsche's 3.2 litre flat-six cylinder engine, lightened body panels, an integrated roll cage (adding chassis stiffness in addition to occupant safety), upgraded suspension and braking systems, a custom-designed transmission, and several unique trim pieces such as polyurethene bumpers, and the use of the fender-mounted oil filter (a Porsche feature for the 1972 MY only) necessitated by relocating the oil tank forward to clear the intercooler on that side.

Much attention was given to aerodynamic considerations, with the body being de-guttered/seam welded and the use of filler panels for the door pillars and 935-style mirrors. Prototype models had NACA-style intercooler intake ducts over the rear fenders (later dropped, as it was discovered that air was pulled out, rather than in, at speed due to a low-pressure area), while later models had additional slots in the rear bumper corners for the air to exit.

Ruf CTR3

The Ruf CTR3 is a mid-engined sports car built by Ruf Automobile of Germany.

Model Information

The CTR3 was released 20 years after the original Ruf CTR, on April 11, 2007 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, and 12 years after the CTR2. Continuing the Ruf tradition of enhancing Porsche automobiles, the CTR3 shares both the body panels and engine from Porsche. For the first time, however, it features a Ruf designed body built on a dedicated platform, reflecting the "classic" visual feel of older Porsche sports cars. Additionally, Ruf adpoted the Porsche Cayman's mid-engine layout for the new car, rather than the traditional rear-engine layout of the previous CTR models (CTR and CTR2). Built out of steel, aluminum, and kevlar-carbon, the car altogether weighs 1,375 kg (3,031 lb). The engine of the CTR3 is a Porsche derived 3.8 L flat-6 paired with twin KK&K turbochargers; this means the CTR3 produces 515 kW (691 hp) at 7,000 rpm, and has a maximum torque of 890 N·m (660 lb·ft).

Ruf CTR2

The Ruf CTR2 (Group C, Turbo Ruf, 2nd generation) was a 2-door supercar built by manufacturer Ruf Automobile of Germany as the successor to the CTR Yellowbird, but based on Porsche's Type 993 generation 911.

History

Ruf came into the public eye in 1987 when they released their Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2-based CTR, an extremely limited-production model which for several years held the title of world's fastest production vehicle. Wanting an ultra-high performance model to remain among the company offerings, Alois Ruf Jr., the company owner, followed up the original with a CTR2 in 1995, another production model made in limited quantities, based on the then-new 993-chassis 911 Turbo. Originally offered at a retail Price of $315,000 USD, the CTR2 featured either the standard rear-wheel drive or an optional all-wheel-drive, Recaro racing seats with Simpson five-point belts, enlarged brakes, an integrated roll-cage, a Ruf manufactured coil-over suspension system, an integrated bi-functional rear wing (for downforce, and air induction to 2 intercoolers, one on each side) and a kevlar body with lightweight glass; power came from a race derived version of Porsche's air-cooled 3.6 litre, twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, also based on the engine used in the Porsche 962 Le Mans Group C car (hence the name CTR2) but tuned by Ruf to produce 520 hp (388 kW) and 505 foot-pounds (685 N·m) of torque. The car's engine was revised later to bump the power output to 580 hp (433 kW).