2009 RUF CTR3

NEWS & REVIEWS If you missed the boat on buying a new Porsche Carrera GT before production ended in 2006, don’t worry; there’s something out there that shares its DNA, but is a bit faster. The Ruf CTR3 is the 235-mph creation of legendary Porsche tuner Alois Ruf. While he’s best known for his crazy 911 conversions, the CTR3 takes him into true supercar territory. For starters, it’s built around a mid-engined, tube-frame chassis and clothed in a wind-cheating Kevlar and carbon-fiber body. Sizewise, it’s an inch and a half shorter than a 911 Turbo and four inches longer than a Cayman. Power comes from a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six that delivers a thundering 700 hp and 656 lb-ft of torque. That translates into zero-to-60-mph sprints in around 3.0 seconds, ompared to 3.5 seconds for the Carrera GT. Yes, rear vision though the slotted rear window is grim, but no one is going to be passing you at 235 mph. PHOTOS: click photos to enlarge

2007 RUF RT12

NEWS & REVIEWS When the conversation turns to crazy-fast tuned Porsche 911s, the name Alois Ruf gets everyone’s attention. This performance magician from Pfaffenhausen, Germany, has been creating insane, 200-mph 911s since the late ’80s. His latest projectile, the twin-turbo 650-bhp Rt12 (Ruf Turbo 12) is said to be good for 225 mph and, more importantly, sprinting from zero-to-200 km/h—that’s a whisker shy of 125 mph—in 9.7 seconds. That’s fast. As you expect of a Ruf, the engine has been almost completely reengineered with go-faster gear like titanium con rods, Mahle pistons, gas-flowed heads, bespoke cams, and a pair of big-ass Ruf turbos. Mega brakes, Ruf 19-inch rims, and a race-tuned suspension complete the package. www.rufautocentre.com PHOTOS: click photos to enlarge