RUF Automobile Delivers Its First Production RODEO at The Quail
The supercar manufacturer also delivered its latest CTR3 EVO & showcased the production version of its TRIBUTE…
Supercar manufacturer RUF Automobile presented its first-ever customer-ordered RODEO at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week. Following its successful world debut at last year’s event, the delivery marks a milestone for RUF’s off-road sports car, the world’s only all-terrain production vehicle constructed on a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, company officials stated in a press release.
Appearing alongside the new RODEO was RUF’s latest CTR3 EVO, which was also delivered to its new owner at the event, as well as the production TRIBUTE, RUF’s air-cooled sports car created in honor of 60 years of the 911, the prototype of which debuted at The Quail in 2023.
The RUF RODEO Is Ready for Almost Any Terrain
The first production RUF RODEO is presented in a deep shade of Jordan Black with white center-lock forged wheels. The company says that the first customer-specified RODEO captures the spirit of the West with an edgier, more dramatic tone. Its dark, chiseled design is accented with White-finish roof rails, quad-stacked exhaust tips integrated into the rear bumper and White model designations.
Its front and rear bumpers feature integrated bash bars, with wide fender flares giving the design an extra sense of solidity while supporting a 1.6-inch wider front and 5.6-inch wider rear track width compared to the SCR. RUF Bi-LED headlights are complemented by full-LED taillights for a modern, safety-forward design.
The RODEO is underpinned by mechanicals optimized for any terrain, noted the release. An in-house engineered, fully adjustable all-wheel-drive system allows variable torque distribution from front to rear. A specialized double-wishbone suspension system featuring pushrod-actuated horizontal dampers is raised by 9.5 inches compared to the SCR.
Braking is handled by RUF’s advanced ceramic brakes, with six-piston monobloc brake calipers mated to 13.8-inch ceramic discs at all four corners. Power is provided by RUF’s 3.6-liter turbocharged horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine, developing 610 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission ensures maximum control over power delivery while retaining the analog experience inherent in a RUF.
In celebration of the RODEO’s first delivery, Aloisa Ruf created a limited capsule collection of hand-painted RODEO jeans, each pair individually numbered and featuring unique details, which will be officially released in the near future.
The RUF CTR3 EVO Pushes the Boundaries of Performance
The RUF CTR3 EVO is the fastest vehicle in RUF’s stable and the second evolution of the original CTR3. This example is presented in Howe White, with its new owner taking delivery at The Quail, alongside the RODEO.
The CTR3 EVO, like its predecessor, has a low and wide front end and a unique clamshell decklid with six integrated engine bay vents representing its six horizontally-opposed cylinders. Its large carbon-fiber rear wing, front splitter and large rear diffuser ensure optimal aerodynamic performance and high-speed downforce, helping the CTR3 EVO achieve a top speed of 236 mph. Body-colored RUF five-spoke center-lock wheels further round out the design.
The heart of the CTR3 EVO is a RUF-developed 3.8-liter turbocharged horizontally opposed six-cylinder with variable camshaft adjustment and lift, direct fuel injection and dry sump lubrication. It produces 800 horsepower at 7,100 rpm and 730 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm for a flexible yet rev-happy powertrain.
A seven-speed double-clutch transmission sends the power to the rear wheels, while large 15-inch carbon-ceramic discs are clamped down by six-piston fixed calipers front and rear. The CTR3 EVO’s incredibly light carbon-fiber body is suspended by a MacPherson strut front end and multi-link rear end equipped with horizontally orientated coil-overs, on full display and serving as a centerpiece of the engine bay.
Like all RUF vehicles, the CTR3 EVO is equipped with an Integrated Roll Cage for maximum rigidity and safety. RUF says the CTR3 EVO takes its iconic supercar to the next level, with a striking design and performance figures rivaling the best modern supercars.
RUF TRIBUTE Is Heading to Production for Model Year 2026
The first RUF TRIBUTE is back, powered by a RUF-designed and manufactured air-cooled engine. The TRIBUTE is the only production air-cooled car in existence from an OEM, having recently passed emissions regulations, one factor that originally took the air-cooled design off the road in the ’90s, company officials noted.
RUF revived this iconic engine design in 2023 to honor 60 years of the 911. The 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged powerplant is equipped with billet aluminum cylinder heads, four-cam three-valve technology (for the first time in an air-cooled car) with variable valve timing and lift, and dry-sump lubrication derived from the well-known system used in the original 911. The company says the vehicle’s 550 horsepower is accompanied by the characteristic soul and charm only an air-cooled engine can offer, topped off by a RUF seven-speed manual sending power to the rear wheels.
This modern air-cooled drivetrain is mounted in the RUF modular platform used for the CTR Anniversary and SCR, with a double-wishbone horizontal pushrod coil-over suspension front and rear, carbon-fiber tub and body, and RUF Integrated Roll Cage. The RUF TRIBUTE will be in production for model year 2026.
“These three cars represent the breadth of what RUF has to offer,” said Alois Ruf, president of RUF Automobile. “The RODEO satisfies our love for adventure, the CTR3 EVO is our track-ready engineering masterpiece designed for maximum speed, and the TRIBUTE is our modern-day callback to the original 911 we fell in love with. We are honored to present these three cars at The Quail, and to hand off the latest RODEO and CTR3 EVO to their new owners.”
