Ruf's 8-cylinder Porsche 911

Ruf took this rather intriguing RGT-8 to the Geneva motor show. And while most news coverage from the Swiss show glossed over the Porsche fettler’s produce, this is a pretty key car: an eight-cylinder 911. It's a 90 degree V8 that manages to fit snugly into the space normally occupied by a flat-six unit. The engine boasts a 4.5-litre displacement, producing 542bhp at 8500rpm and 369lb ft at 5400rpm. There’s no word yet on what performance the RGT-8 achieves, but its construction is from lightweight materials. Aluminium is used on the door and boot lid while the engine cover and rear spoiler are made of carbonfibre. There’s also a set of light 19in forged alloy wheels (wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup rubber) which shroud ceramic brakes. It should be plenty quick, then, but the big news surrounds the shoe-horning of an eight-cylinder engine into the back of (what is essentially) a Porsche 911. Flat-sixes have been a mainstay when it comes to 911 power, but the use of a high-bhp, naturally aspirated V8 in this Ruf could signal a new dawn for Porsche’s supercar when the 998 iteration is launched in the next few years. The RGT-8 produces more power than the most recent 911 GT2 but without its twin turbos. We should get to sample the Ruf RGT-8 in the not too distant future, with sales set to be underway by 2011. Read about Ruf’s finest hour, the CTR ‘Yellow bird’ The mighty Ruf CTR3 hits 235mph. We drive it here The Porsche 911 GT2 takes on the Ferrari 430 Scuderia

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