RUF RGT-8: a 911 without a boxer engine?

I don’t know about you but RUF is the first name that comes to my mind when I think of a souped up Porsche. They have a few cars in their line-up, even one based on the Cayenne, but while other Porsche models like the Cayenne gets taglines like ‘an SUV lover’s Porsche’, or the ‘poor man’s Porsche’ for the Boxster (not here in Malaysia of course), it is the 911 that is considered THE Porsche. And the first RUF RGT was based on a 911 – the type 996 to be exact. But those first incarnations of the RGT used engines based on what was originally found in the car – 6-pot boxers, souped up to produce more power than Porsche originally intended. The first RGT used the 996 GT3’s 3.6 litre engine as a base, but used the crankcase from the air-cooled version of the 3.6 litre engine.

The new RUF RGT-8 is the third generation RGT. And it no longer runs a Porsche 6-pot. RUF has junked the 6-pot (to be donated to Volkswagen Beetle dragsters somewhere across the globe?) in favor for a RUF-designed V8. It’s not the same engine as the Porsche V8s found in the Panamera and the Cayenne. Those are ‘conventional’ cross-plane crank V8s, but this RUF V8 has a 180 degree ‘flatcrank’ similiar to Ferraris. They sound much different compared to the cross-plane ‘American-ish’ rumbly sound that we typically associate with V8s. Ever hear a Ferrari ‘rumble’? No, they have high pitched superbike-like howls, sounding more like two Civic Type R engines screaming in unison rather than an American V8.

The RUF V8 is 4.5 litres in size is a high revving monster weighing less than 200kg, producing 550 horsepower at 8,500rpm and 500Nm of torque at 5,400rpm. That’s more power than what the high-revving 3.8 litre boxer in the 911 GT3 RS makes by a good 100 horses. The engine is built on an aluminum crankcase with dry sump lubrication. Each V bank has its own throttle butterfly. Waterpump, alternator and the aircond compressor are all driven directly by the engine without any belts, and are located in the lowest position possible. The engine puts power to the rear wheels only, via 6-speed manual transmission.

Look after the jump for hi-res pix of the new RGT-8.

[zenphotopress number=999 album=930]

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • pulge on Mar 08, 2010 at 10:03 pm

    Any sound clip for the engine? O_O

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  • armandd on Mar 08, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    the steering wheel looks like a toyota's.

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  • Mpit31978 on Mar 08, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    Wow…

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  • Nerddy on Mar 08, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    aaa…. beutiful, in a simple way…

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  • pomen_gtr on Mar 08, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    can't wait to see this babies rolling hard on Nur. track…

    (ofcourse on u-tube) :lol:

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  • Alifz on Mar 08, 2010 at 11:48 pm

    Is the engine still at the front or going to rear now?

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  • almostthere on Mar 09, 2010 at 12:41 am

    curious question, why is the dash from a Boxtser/Cayman?

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  • RUF cars are very fast but they are not that good in corners..

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  • Techmimem on Mar 09, 2010 at 1:12 am

    4.5L V8 engine less than 200kg? Wow some humans (really fat ones) weigt more than that! Must be aluminum/magnesium/titanium alloys made.

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  • almostthere on Mar 09, 2010 at 4:56 am

    RUF cars not fast around corners? Obviously someone hasn't seen the Faszination video

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  • Gajen on Mar 09, 2010 at 7:01 am

    almostthere said,

    March 8, 2010 @ 4:41 pm

    curious question, why is the dash from a Boxtser/Cayman?

    ______________________________________________________________

    good ques…i didnt realise too till u told lol

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