High-riding supercars are big news right now, and at Ruf Automobile they’ve unleashed the most aggressive and off-road capable of them all.
Meet the Ruf Rodeo, boasting a turbo-charged flat-six engine to the rear, all-wheel drive for the roughest of Ruf times, and a monster 610 bhp. Styling familiar underneath all that ruggedness? Ruf say this is no restomod 911 and they’re keen to tell you why.
The exterior, of course, looks familiar to anyone who’s recently spent time with a 964-generation Porsche 911. But boss Alois Ruf likes to stress that his company, with its origins in modified 911s, is now a manufacturer in its own right. Underneath that well-known silhouette lies bespoke carbon-fibre monocoque construction for lightness and strength. The adjustable all-wheel drive is to Ruf’s own specification, and that exterior is far from a standard 911... even if there are stylistic references to a storied past.
The rear-boot lid houses a ducktail spoiler, which is an obvious retro-nod to Porsche’s legendary 1972 RS. Brutal body modifications include take-no-prisoners wheel arches while, crucially, the ride height is pumped up to 9.5 inches, or almost enough to frighten a Range Rover. Transmission, you’ll be glad to hear, is through a manual six-speed box. Ruf are always open to suggestion, so if you must have automatic they’ll do that too. Tailor-made is very much the name of the game here, and that’s before you open a door to the interior.
Ruf Rodeo: beautiful inside and out
You’ll immediately note the hand-stitched antiqued leather that graces dash, doors and seats. Integral roll-cage is reassurance that when you’re hitting the hills, your Ruf will protect you. Also reassuring is the luxury of interior appointments, said to be inspired by Ralph Lauren’s Colorado ranch. Striking fabric inserts are pure Americana, with designs taken from Native American traditions in the American south-west. Safe to say it’s a pretty comfortable place to spend the hours on road and off. Will it see off the obvious competitors?
Prime among those challenging for your off-road supercar dollar is Porsche’s own Dakar 911, with some road testers suggesting the Rodeo, with its super-aggressive styling, is what Porsche wish they could have done. And what of the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato with its sleek mid-engined looks and increased ride height? One significant plus: the Ruf will be vanishingly rare so you’re unlikely to see another.
Because the Ruf Rodeo is that rarest of beasts: capable of 150 mph on the autobahn and pretty swift progress off road too. Tempted? Ruf Automobile are ready and waiting for your call at their headquarters in Bavaria. Order books are now open, so if you’d like to be both shaken and stirred - ours is a vodka martini, thanks for asking - then have around £945,000 ready, and they’ll begin the meticulous hand-build of your off-road supercar, once you’ve chosen from the available colourways. Olive Green? Bitter Chocolate? Burgundy Red? Signal Orange? Aga Blue? Or your own concoction? Decisions, decisions...
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