V8 911

For some, a standard 911 isn’t enough. They want their Porsche to be more powerful and distinctive.



That’s where Ruf comes in. The company, based in Pfaffenhausen, Germany, converts Porsches so comprehensively it is regarded as a manufacturer in its own right by the German government. To refer to Ruf as merely a tuner is a major disservice.



The firm has just announced its latest creation, the RGT-8. That name gives a clue to the concept behind the new model.

Ruf has ditched the 911’s standard six cylinder engine and replaced it with a V8 of its own making. Clearly Ruf like a challenge - as if engineering a totally new motor and getting it to fit in the Porsche’s cramped engine bay wasn’t hard enough, it will also have to convince 911 purists. Some of them might be reduced to gibbering fits of apoplexy by the thought of anything but a flat six.

With a capacity of 4.5 litres, the normally-aspirated V8 produces 550 bhp and 500 Nm of torque. By comparison, the Porsche 911 Turbo S is less powerful but more torquey (500 bhp and 700 Nm). To complement the power, the rear wheel drive RGT-8 is fitted with ceramic brakes and 19-inch Ruf alloys.

The interior is also made over, and features racing seats together with an integrated roll cage for when it all goes wrong.

Production is scheduled to commence in 2011, although pricing has yet to be confirmed.