It is a big weekend for RUF, the not-quite-a-Porsche experts behind the now-legendary CTR "Yellowbird" and incredible new SCR. In addition to the 800-hp evolution of its CTR3 supercar the brand announced earlier Thursday morning, RUF is also revealing a dramatic new 911-like speedster, the RUF R Spyder.
911-like speedster does not mean the same thing as 911 Speedster, the official Porsche model that typically arrives at the end of a 911's life cycle. The R Spyder is another step more extreme, dropping the low-slung windscreen and removable roof for a pair of smaller wind deflectors that leave the driver and passenger just about as open to the elements as possible. Like the SLR Stirling Moss and Ferrari Monza before it, the R Spyder is an incredibly efficient way to funnel a whole lot of air at a driver's face.
Power comes from a naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six making 515 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. That is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox equipped with an auto-blip function.
The cabin is split in two down the middle by a dividing bar, which separates two distinct wind deflectors and separate cabin areas. A physical stopwatch sits between the driver and passenger, who are expected to communicate through intercoms built into special helmets meant to be stored underneath the car's massive rear decklid. In a car where a lack of protection from wind resistance is a feature rather than a bug, those helmets quickly become a must.
RUF has not shared pricing details for either the CTR3 Evo or the R Spyder, but the last CTR3 cost $725,000 in 2018. The open-topped RUF Supercar is likely to be relatively expensive, too.
