Ruf Rodeo sends a classic Porsche off-roading

Several years ago, Ruf introduced its take on a Dakar-capable rally car with Porsche 911 underpinnings. It has now showcased the first finished example at the Monterey Car Week.

Although the exterior may put you in the mind of earlier Porsches, what you see here is pretty much its own car from top to bottom. It features a Jordan Black carbon-fiber monocoque base and rides on forged centerlock wheels with a white finish. The chassis largely corresponds to the latest Ruf SCR spec, but comes with off-road bumpers and a seriously widened track. Specifically, the front axle gets 41 mm (1.6”) and the rear axle 142 mm (5.5”) of extra track width.

A 3.6-liter, water-cooled, turbocharged flat-six engine sends 618 PS (610 hp / 455 kW) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and a torque control system.

The tuner also mentions custom pushrod suspension with an opportunity to lift the car by up to 242 mm (9.5 inches) when necessary, as well as carbon-ceramic brakes with six-piston calipers.

The Ruf booth at the show had two other vehicles that you’ll find at the end of the gallery here. One is a CTR3 Evo in a gorgeous white finish with 811 PS (800 hp / 596 kW) at its disposal. The other one is a nostalgia-inducing Ruf Tribute in a shade of swamp green with 557 PS (550 hp / 410 kW) at the crank.