Ruf would always have a difficult task matching the hype of last year's Geneva show, given 2017 marked 30 years of the Yellowbird - you'll remember it celebrated that with a new
carbon-monocoqued CTR
, and what a car that was.
2018 sees the return of the Ruf SCR, a model first seen 40 years ago as a faster, more aggressive Carrera. A 21st century SCR prototype was shown at Geneva in 2016 and, following the response to that, Ruf has now created a production version.
It uses the same carbon monocoque and carbon body as the CTR, but now power is from a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six. Oh yep. Peak power of 510hp is made at 8,270rpm, peak torque of 347lb ft is made at 5,760rpm and Ruf is claiming a top speed of 199mph. With a six-speed manual and a kerbweight of just 1,325kg (a GT3 is 1,488kg by the same measure), it's easy to see why excitement is running so high.
Ruf describes the SCR as "our characterful answer to the desire for a pure, undiluted driving pleasure in a world without compromises." So in addition to what sounds like an incredible powertrain, the SCR features ceramic brakes, a limited-slip diff, pushrod dampers and a roll cage integrated into the structure. And all in a package that looks like the old 911s people get frothy about - where do we sign?
This is not a production car simply in the motor show sense either: the SCR has been fully homologated (it's in efficiency class G, with CO2 of 324g/km and a combined mpg of 20.8) and is ready to go on sale. There's no suggestion that production of the SCR will be limited (like the Yellowbird was), but there isn't a price just yet. Still, given what the 911 R is still for sale at, the Ruf can't look bad value at any price - can it?
1 / 2