Ruf Rodeo: The New Benchmark for Off-Road Sports Cars

Germany's Ruf has recently introduced an off-road sports car inspired by the iconic Porsche 911 rally cars that competed in the East African Safari Rallies of the 1970s, perfectly blending off-road capabilities with sporty performance.

Unlike Porsche tuning companies like Singer, which only modify existing 911s, Ruf is a recognized manufacturer that builds cars from scratch, using bespoke parts including an in-house developed carbon-fiber monocoque chassis.

Unveiled at the 2024 Monterey Car Week, the Rodeo is the production version of a concept car of the same name shown in 2020. Beyond its carbon tub, the Rodeo features a range of off-road goodies, including a bespoke all-wheel-drive system and an interior inspired by American cowboy culture (particularly the Ralph Lauren Ranch). The idea came from Ruf Marketing Director Estonia Ruf’s experiences while living in Oklahoma.

Like its central tub, the Rodeo's body is also made from carbon fiber, helping to bring the curb weight down to just 2,756 pounds. The car is further reinforced by a roll cage made from steel and connected at four points to the carbon tub.

For off-roading, the Rodeo adopts a double-wishbone suspension with pushrod-actuated coil-overs and electronically adjustable dampers that help lift the ride height to 9.5 inches, or about double that of typical sports cars. The wheels are an 18-inch forged design with center locks, and they come wrapped in Goodyear all-terrain tires measuring 235/55 at all four corners. Housed within are Ruf carbon-ceramic brakes.

You might be wondering why an off-roader needs carbon-ceramic brakes, but the Rodeo is also a serious sports car. Its Ruf-developed turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-6 engine delivers 610 hp, which is just 30 hp shy of what Porsche offers in the latest 911 Turbo S.

Here, the engine is hooked to a 6-speed manual and an adjustable all-wheel-drive system that enables the driver to vary power delivery from front to rear via a screen in the center console. The system also includes limited-slip differentials front and rear.

Ruf established a new home for its U.S. headquarters in Florida last year to cover its growing base of North American customers. The headquarters is located at Miami's The Concours Club, which has a racetrack and forms part of an airport. It means customers can fly in and be on the track within minutes of landing.

Ruf said the Rodeo will be available starting with the 2025 model year. A price tag hasn't been revealed.

Porsche itself recently got into the off-road 911 game with the limited-edition 911 Dakar launched for the 2023 model year. Just 2,500 were built for worldwide sale.