RUF RT12 S



RUF Automobile is renowned for taking Stuttgart’s mightiest and transforming them into some of the quickest sports cars on the planet. In the late Eighties it was the RUF CTR, or the Yellowbird as it would affectionately become known. But now there’s a new kid on the block, the RT12 S. Spiritual successor to the already insanely quick RT 12 and the latest in a long line of hyper 911s.

At first glance you’d be forgiven for thinking the RT12 S is little more than a fettled 997 Turbo. There’s some truth to that assertion too, the RUF machine shares the Turbo’s platform and running gear for example. However all realms of normality cease to exist once the RT12 S is shown a clear stretch of road and you floor the throttle. The headline figures make for shocking reading.

Are you sitting down? 676bhp, 224mph and £220,000. But four-wheel drive is for sissies, right? Well, don’t fret, RUF will happily make your RT 12 S rear-wheel drive too. So aside from all that performance what else do you get for that significant price tag? With the RT12 S RUF hasn’t just turned up the wick. There’s a fully integrated roll cage, a huge set of carbon ceramic brakes nestling under the 19-inch forged lightweight alloys and hydraulically adjustable suspension to boot. There’s also an aero-friendly body kit complete with two great chasms in the rear wings to feed the intercoolers great swathes of air and a neat carbon fibre rear spoiler. That’s before you explore the extensive list of interior and exterior customisation options.

Less of the talk though, it’s time to experience that performance. From the hot seat there’s nothing that prepares you for the cataclysmic performance that’s to follow. The first thing you notice is the RT12 S proves no less demanding to drive than a regular 997 Turbo, happy to pootle along with regular traffic as it is tearing chunks out of the horizon. A slightly deeper thrum from the dual twin-exit exhausts fills the cabin but aside from that there’s nothing indicative of the 200hp extra horses seated out back.

But that soon changes. Find a gap big enough in the traffic, let the engine revolutions spin past 4000rpm on the RUF dial and all hell breaks loose. The RT12S surges towards the red line with a violent and addictive vigour, tyres momentarily break traction before the Michelins hook up and the frenzy of acceleration ensues. Grab the next ratio and the process continues again. The ferocity doesn’t show sign of abating through fourth, fifth and into six.

Those Ceramic stoppers prove entirely necessary, shedding the huge momentum. The extra oomph does result in more turbo lag, but it’s a small trade off. Once the RT12 S is on boost it will have you gurning incessantly, its performance is compelling and corruptive in equal measure. The only snag is you won’t be hanging onto your licence for long. Still, we’d love one.

Specification
Max Power: 676hp @ 7000rpm
Max Torque: 664lb ft @ 3500-4000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual, four-wheel drive (two-wheel drive optional)
Max Speed: 224mph (claimed) 0-60mph: 3.4 seconds (claimed)

For the full verdict on RUF’s RT12 S check out the December issue of GT Purely Porsche Magazine, on sale 12 Nov


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