Our car experts choose every product we feature. We may earn money from the links on this page.
Do you need a newsworthy reason to take another look at this German magnificence? No!
It’s a rare and special thing to see a RUF, the Porsche 911-based supercars made by RUF Automobile GmbH in Pfaffenhausen, Deutschland. And this one wasn’t just any RUF—not that there is ever just any RUF. This one is the RUF Ultimate.
Built in 2016 and debuted at Geneva that year, the Ultimate has been in private hands ever since, the current owner is in Southern California. But the owner rolled it out recently and allowed for some photos. The RUF Ultimate is one of one. Unlike current RUF models such as the SCR and CTR Anniversary, the Ultimate stands on its own.
The fully legal road car is a design and performance exercise built with the same philosophy as the legendary RUF CTR “Yellowbird” but with modern materials and technology, RUF says. You might call it the daily drivable Yellowbird. Some have dubbed it the Bluebird. It has all the visceral charm of the original Yellowbird, combined with fully modern engine electronics.
The Ultimate is based on a 993 body-in-white chassis, with a RUF engine, transmission, interior and carbon-fiber body. Many design cues in this car eventually made their way to the CTR Anniversary, a car made to celebrate 30 years since the Yellowbird's debut. The Ultimate sports a “Mexico Blue” shade of paint which, combined with yellow calipers, is a particularly striking look.
Revealed at Geneva in 2016 alongside the SCR 4.2, the RUF Ultimate was the first step in a design process that led to the current CTR Anniversary and SCR models. The RUF Ultimate takes all the best qualities of the iconic Yellowbird and pushes them even further for the modern day. With its extremely stiff and lightweight body, powerful hand-built engine, and high level of finish, it is the ultimate RUF.
The Ultimate uses a MacPherson strut front and semi-trailing arm rear suspension based on the 964 design but bolstered by RUF springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars, while the 993-based drivetrain is hand-built by RUF.
Most significantly, the body shell is fully carbon fiber, stiffened by RUF’s Integrated Roll Cage.
The Ultimate is 220 pounds lighter than the car it's based on when it left the factory, and allows the 3.6 liter air-cooled twin-turbo flat-6 to propel it to a top speed of 211 mph and 0-62 mph of around 3.0 seconds.
The RUF engine produces 590 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 531 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission.
A fully-modern Motronic fuel injection system allows the turbos to be virtually lag-free, with lightweight internals quickly revving it to 7,000 rpm.
The 1-inch larger 18-inch staggered wheels are sized 225 in front and 285 in rear and are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s.
The car’s styling tastefully modernizes the original CTR Yellowbird’s look with clear indicator lights, a body-colored whale tail, and brake cooling ducts replacing the original’s fog lights.
Imagine the other cars in this guy's collection. What is the red car there?
The brakes are carbon ceramic discs measuring 13.8 inches and clamped by 4-piston calipers at all four corners.
Interior is stark and purposeful.
Plenty of side bolstering on those seats.
Note the "Ultimate" script on the rear firewall.
Looks like a tool tray!
Would love to drive this.