By Cam Tait \/ Monday, 21 August 2023 \/ Loading comments<\/p>\n
Ruf has gone big for this year\u2019s Monterey Car Week. Hot on the heels of the CTR3 Evo and R Spyder announcements, the tuning outfit is closing out the Californian motor fest with another pair of modified Porsches: the Tribute (that\u2019s the green one) and the BTR Twin (the silver one).<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll start with the Tribute, which is packing something rather special behind the rear axle. To celebrate the 911s 60th<\/sup> anniversary, Ruf has gone back to the sports car’s roots by designing its own 3.6-litre, air-cooled flat-six engine, albeit with all the mod cons you\u2019d expect from a modern-day motor. There\u2019s are three-valve cylinder heads, for instance, as well as variable valve timing and lift. A pair of turbochargers have been slapped on as well, with peak power coming in at 550hp at 6,750rpm and 553lb ft at 4,500rpm. Lovely stuff. But despite Ruf\u2019s old-school approach with the Tribute, there\u2019s no physical connection between the throttle and motor \u2013 it\u2019s fly-by-wire.<\/p>\n But that\u2019s the whole point of the Tribute. Retro appeal, modern engineering. So while it may look like it\u2019s another 964-based restomod, it’s actually built around a carbon fibre monocoque \u2013 just like the Yellowbird-inspired CTR Anniversary. There\u2019s double-wishbone suspension all round, with horizontally mounted dampers to reduce unsprung mass. On that note, Ruf hasn\u2019t revealed a weight figure yet, but if the CTR Anniversary tipped the scales at around 1,300kg, the lighter air-cooled engine could result in a lower figure for the Tribute.<\/p>\n The BTR Twin, meanwhile, is a Ruf in the more traditional sense. Because there\u2019s no better birthday present than the gift of power, Ruf has elected to mark 40 years since the BTR2 by giving its 993-bases supercar an extra turbocharger. This ups the now-twin-turbo, 3.6-litre flat-six to 550hp and 502lb ft of torque, while a limited-slip differential helps transmit that to the road while, hopefully, dialling out some of the ‘widow-maker’ traits.<\/p>\n Unlike the Tribute, mind, the BTR Twin is still a 993 at heart. To bring the looks into the 21st<\/sup> Century, Ruf has developed new LED head and rear lights, which can be fitted on all existing 993s if your wallet can\u2019t quite stretch to the full BTR Twin-spec. Though it won\u2019t make you go faster, they\u2019ll be a considerable improvement over the old halogen lamps. A set of five-spoke Ruf wheels wouldn\u2019t hurt, either…<\/p>\n Ruf hasn\u2019t disclosed pricing, but with the CTR Anniversary coming in close to \u20ac1m six years ago, we wouldn\u2019t be surprised if the Tribute commanded similar money. The BTR Twin should be a touch cheaper, though if this original 964 BTR is anything to go by it\u2019ll still be closer to seven figures than five. You can, however, pick up this exceptionally cool Ruf 3.4 CR for \u00a3134,995 – a bargain Yellowbird if ever there was.<\/p>\n