A 205hp Ruf? That’s because it has zero emissions.
Ruf is a manufacturers of souped up cars based on Porsches, and what you are about to read may be shocking to hear from a company that made the Ruf CTR3, a rear engined monster based on the Cayman with a Porsche-derived 3.8 liter flat-6 twin turbocharged engine producing 700 horsepower at 7,000rpm and 890Nm of torque! Despite all that power, the car weighed a relatively light 1,475kg.
The latest baby from the Ruf stables is an electric car based on the Type 997 Porsche 911 body. A small electric motor weighing only 91kg puts out 205 horsepower and 650Nm of torque, which seems rather minute compared to the 700hp of the CTR3, but it does have a decent amount of torque accessible throughout every part of the rev range. Still, the lack of power shows in the 0 to 100km/h figures – a rather sedate 7 seconds.
Powering this electric motor is a collection of 96 battery cells, each weighing 5.6 kg each. That’s 537.6kg for the batteries alone, and if you add the weight of the electric motor – a total of 628.6kg. These batteries are loaded everywhere – both at the front and the rear of the car which means any luggage space is destroyed. They provide an estimated driving range is between 250 to 320km.
I think the worst of all is the fact that this Porsche/Ruf is going to be one that makes no noise except for a silent whine of the electric motor. Sadly this seems to be the way things will end up sooner or later.
Look after the jump for more images.
October 13, 2008 @ 11:32 pm
well, considering the oringinal porsches never had much luggage space, people who buy this might not use this for groceries run.
i am intrigued by the engine tho.
205hp but with 650nm of torque!? thats a very driveable engine right there. horsepower isn’t everything.
October 14, 2008 @ 12:18 am
Woooooooow! 205 HP and 650 Nm is much better than some of the existing petrol car. 0-100km/h in 7 seconds range isn’t that shy for a sports car. I think that’s cool, altough the Tesla has the upper hand in the HP powerband area and definately beat this Porsche in 0-100km/h with it’s 4 seconds mark! Porsche still have a long way to go in producing a electric supercars!
October 14, 2008 @ 7:35 am
you know, i’ve always wondered…….a car with 1 bhp and 100nm of torque vs another with 100bhp and 1nm of torque – which does better in the century sprint assuming all else is equal? hmmm!
October 14, 2008 @ 8:53 am
Its a good thought and it would need efforts like these to promote EV as the inevitable choice for sports car driving. But unlike Ruf, Tesla developed the chasis with Lotus and had a bespoke solution. Anybody who retrofits a Porsche would taken into account of the weight distribution that is essential in maintaining the rideability of the car. Otherwise, it would be disasterous to drive, which has always been the problem with older standard Porsches.
October 14, 2008 @ 10:01 am
wonder what it will be like in a collision….get flatten by battery packs..wohooo…
October 14, 2008 @ 11:07 am
7 seconds is embarassing for a 911 and they should stuff even more batteries up front to inprove the distribution, but without the front radiators, the rounded bumper makes it look like a aircooled 993- nice
October 14, 2008 @ 11:08 am
I see wheel spin. Lotsa wheel spin. Excessive torque may need to use Michaelin tyres. No Simex here.
October 14, 2008 @ 11:24 am
err Paul, according to topgear.com, it weighs 1910kg, not 1475kg
Paul Tan says: that is probably the weight of the electric Ruf. the 1475kg figure is the weight of the CTR3.
October 14, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Salamz and Hi,
I’ve always wonder what will happen if a battery-powered vehicle collided in a road accident? Although the driver and passenger would survive the impact but there’s a high possibility that they might be electrocuted to death by the high voltage batteries and heavy wiring stuffed inside the car. Hybrid and battery car manufacturers should incorporate some safety features of some kind to avoid this impending fate; electrifying death. Perhaps installing a circuit breaker to completely severe the electric/electronic circuit which is connected the car’s main batteries during collision will help (but, without compromising the basic function of the car such as maneuverability, the airbag, brakes and hydraulics system). Perhaps a non-electronic solution is needed, rather than making the car to be fully automated from top to bottom, mechanical solution will still valid for safety reason.
October 14, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
i think this is a good idea but can’t someone find a way to make electric cars make noise
October 14, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
Partner with altec lensing and nfs?
October 14, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
Sweet bodykits by Ruf.
And a clean one too!
October 14, 2008 @ 11:15 pm
205hp 650nm may sounds silly for Porsche fans, but those figures are already damn powerful….
October 15, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
i rather have something crazier by herr Jan Fatthauer of 9FF