RUF Bergmeister Debuts At The Quail As A Hillclimb-Inspired Speedster

Ruf Automobile GmbH is back with a bang, launching the new Bergmeister at The Quail. The model is a roofless carbon-bodied speedster with a tuned air-cooled engine producing 444 hp and a unique design inspired by Porsche’s Hillclimb racecars.

The Ruf Bergmeister, or simply Project RBS, pays hommage to vehicles from the past like the Porsche 906, the 909 Bergspyder, and the 718 RS 60 Spyder, designed by Tony Hatter. To some extent, it is Ruf’s take on the never produced Boxster Bergspyder that Porsche made a few years ago, and it’s pretty cool.

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The Ruf Bergmeister might look like a heavily modified 993, but all of the carbon-fiber body panels are custom-made. Bespoke parts include the front bumper that is featuring modern intakes flanked by aerodynamic fins and small canards, the front and rear fenders with curved lines fading out on the bodywork, the short windshield, the vented engine cover with an integrated wing, and the ducktail rear spoiler.

The absence of a roof adds to the drama, the green graphics contrast with the white-painted body, and the 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels are shod in ultra-wide tires at the back. Moving inside, almost the entirety of the cabin is covered in black Alcantara, including the dashboard, door cards, and steering wheel, combined with retro tartan upholstery for the bucket seats and aluminum pedals.

The speedster is fitted with a dry-sump air-cooled turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six that is tuned by Ruf to produce 444 hp (331 kW / 450 PS) and 442 lb-ft (599 Nm) of torque. This is similar to the power output of a 997 GT3 RS, and more than enough for the lightweight nature of the Bergmeister. Power is transmitted to the rear axle through a six-speed manual gearbox with the help of a limited-slip differential. Brakes are also upgraded with 350 mm ventilated and perforated carbon-ceramic disks featuring six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear.

Ruf didn’t announce the price of the Bergmeister or how many examples will be produced. The model will be exhibited at The Quail during Monterey Car Week, together with a new SCR prototype. This one is based on a carbon-fiber monocoque and comes fitted with a naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six producing 510 hp (517 PS) and 346 lb-ft (380 kW / 469 Nm) of torque, exactly as much as the new 911 GT3.

Speaking about the two models, Alois Ruf, owner of Ruf Automobile GmbH said: “The Bergmeister embodies the most elemental driving experience, while the SCR highlights the latest technology offerings from our team in Pfaffenhausen.”