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Ruf R Kompressor
Author: <ADMINNICENAME>03.11.2006
Brilliant engineering and exploitable performance
It’s hard to imagine a car with 435 horsepower, a top speed of 189 mph and a price in the region of $130,000 as being entry-level. Though no matter how crazy that sounds, the R Kompressor remains a few hundred horses shy of Ruf’s current top offering, the chest-thumping Rt 12. However, it’s also about $100,000 cheaper.
The supercharger is a mechanical unit made by ASA, and is driven from the crankshaft by a V-belt. A maximum boost of 8.7 psi is on tap. Twin water-cooled intercoolers, a Ruf-designed aluminum intake manifold, sport catalytic converters and revised engine electronics comprise the extensive engine revisions. The net result: 435 hp at 7000 rpm and 347 pound-feet of torque at 5000 rpm.
Ruf likes to brag that this supercharger system allows for excellent torque, with the ability to rev high without a drop in power (more often the realm of rev-happy turbocharged engines). This boast is proven on the road, where the R Kompressor pulls strongly and smoothly throughout the entire rev range. The clutch becomes friendlier with practice and the six-speed manual transmission has a precise mechanical feel.
On the empty country roads surrounding Ruf’s factory, the R Kompressor feeds a wealth of information through the steering wheel. The lowered suspension and those chunky 19-inch alloys should conspire to knock a few fillings loose. Instead, the ride is stable, firm and allows great confidence with plenty of comfort.
With the suspension lowered a few centimeters and Ruf’s aggressive front and rear bumper treatment, the R Kompressor is a cool, low-key kind of sports car. At a glance, it looks little more than a mildly tweaked 911, and hardly like a car capable of challenging an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Bentley Continental GT and Ferrari F430.
And while the R Kompressor can be ordered as a built-from-the-ground-up Ruf version — with Ruf VIN to prove it — the supercharger package is also available as a kit. For American customers, the conversion can be performed much closer to home. The Ruf Auto Centre in Dallas has been selling complete Pfaffenhausen-built Rufs and also performing Ruf-certified modifications since 2004.
All current normally aspirated 997 Carreras and the previous-generation 996 with 3.4- or 3.6-liter engines can receive the supercharged engine. Price and horsepower figures vary, depending on make and model. The Ruf Auto Centre provides a complete list on its Web site. The cheapest upgrade costs as much as a four-cylinder Honda Accord, and you’ll need to take the bus for two weeks while the work is completed. Trust me, it’s well worth it.
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