RUF RODEO, CTR3 EVO, TRIBUTE at The Quail
Legendary supercar maker RUF Automobile presents its first customer-ordered RODEO at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week. Following its acclaimed world debut at last year’s event, this delivery marks a milestone for RUF’s off-road sports car, the world’s only all-terrain production car built on a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis. The new RODEO appears alongside the latest RUF CTR3 EVO in Howe White, also handed to its new owner at the prestigious show, and the production TRIBUTE, RUF’s air-cooled sports car created to honour 60 years of the 911, whose prototype premiered at The Quail in 2023. RUF returns to The Quail with three distinct yet equally compelling interpretations of its carbon-fibre sports cars.
The first production RUF RODEO arrives in Jordan Black with white centre-lock forged wheels, blending the spirit of the West with a sharper, more dramatic stance. White-finish roof rails, quad-stacked exhaust tips integrated into the rear bumper and white model scripts set off the dark, chiselled surfacing. Integrated bash bars reinforce the front and rear bumpers, while broad wheel-arch extensions add visual muscle and support a 41 millimetre (1.6 inch) wider front and 142 millimetre (5.6 inch) wider rear track than the SCR. RUF Bi-LED headlights cut through the night, paired with full LED tail-lights for a modern, safety-led design.
RUF engineers have tuned the RODEO’s hardware for any terrain. An in-house, fully adjustable all-wheel-drive system varies torque from front to rear. A bespoke double-wishbone suspension with pushrod-actuated horizontal dampers rides 242 millimetres (9.5 inches) higher than the SCR. RUF ceramic brakes feature six-piston monobloc callipers clamping 350 millimetre (13.8 inch) ceramic discs at all four corners. Power comes from a RUF 3.6 litre turbocharged horizontally opposed six-cylinder producing 610 hp and 516 lb ft. A six-speed manual gearbox delivers precise control and preserves the analogue character that defines every RUF RODEO.
To celebrate the first delivery, Aloisa Ruf has created a limited capsule of hand-painted RODEO jeans. Each pair is individually numbered with unique details and will be officially released shortly.
The RUF CTR3 EVO pushes performance to the limit as the fastest model in the RUF lineup and the second evolution of the original CTR3. Finished in elegant Howe White and delivered at The Quail alongside the RODEO, it combines a low, broad nose with a distinctive clamshell decklid housing six integrated engine-bay vents that echo its six horizontally opposed cylinders. A large carbon-fibre rear wing, assertive front splitter and a substantial rear diffuser generate optimal aerodynamic balance and high-speed downforce, enabling a top speed of 236 mph (380 km/h). Body-coloured RUF five-spoke centre-lock wheels complete the bold look.
At its core sits a RUF-developed 3.8 litre turbocharged flat-six with variable camshaft timing and lift, direct fuel injection and dry-sump lubrication. The unit delivers 800 hp at 7,100 rpm and 730 lb ft at 4,000 rpm for a flexible, rev-hungry powertrain. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sends power to the rear wheels, while 15-inch (380 millimetre) carbon-ceramic discs with six-piston fixed callipers front and rear provide formidable stopping power. An exceptionally light carbon-fibre body rides on a MacPherson strut front end and a multi-link rear with horizontally oriented coilovers that sit proudly on display as a centrepiece of the engine bay. Like all RUF models, the CTR3 EVO includes an Integrated Roll Cage for maximum rigidity and safety, taking RUF’s iconic supercar to the next level with performance to rival leading modern supercars.
The RUF TRIBUTE returns, powered by a RUF-designed and manufactured air-cooled engine, heading to production for model year 2026. It stands as the only production air-cooled car from an OEM after passing modern emissions regulations, a hurdle that helped retire air-cooled road cars in the ’90s. Revived in 2023 to honour 60 years of the 911, the 3.6 litre twin-turbocharged powerplant features billet aluminium cylinder heads, four-cam three-valve technology with variable valve timing and lift, and dry-sump lubrication derived from the original 911. It produces 550 hp with the unmistakable soul only an air-cooled engine can deliver, paired with a RUF seven-speed manual driving the rear wheels.
This modern air-cooled drivetrain mounts within RUF’s proven modular platform used for the CTR Anniversary and SCR, combining double-wishbone horizontal pushrod coilover suspension front and rear with a carbon-fibre tub and body and the RUF Integrated Roll Cage. The RUF TRIBUTE enters production for model year 2026.
“These three cars represent the breadth of what RUF has to offer,” said Alois Ruf, president of RUF Automobile. “The RODEO satisfies our love for adventure, the CTR3 EVO is our track-ready engineering masterpiece designed for maximum speed, and the TRIBUTE is our modern-day callback to the original 911 we fell in love with. We are honoured to present these three cars at The Quail, and to hand off the latest RODEO and CTR3 EVO to their new owners.”
In a world of expanding artificial intelligence and excessive automation, RUF remains committed to the thrill of analogue driving. The RUF RODEO, CTR3 EVO, TRIBUTE and every RUF car embody this philosophy, handbuilt in minimal numbers by expert technicians in Pfaffenhausen, Germany.
