Yahoo Autos The 2025 RUF Rodeo Is a Unique Take on the Safari 911
The idea of a Safari 911 — a.k.a. an off-road-optimized one — is nothing new at this point, especially now that Porsche has produced one of its own in the form of the 911 Dakar. Given the buzz around the idea of off-road sports cars these days, however, it's not too surprising to see legendary Porsche shop RUF has decided to build their own iteration of a rear-engined two-door go-anywhere sports car: the 2025 RUF Rodeo.
A conceptual version of the big-tire-wearing, carbon fiber monocoque chassis model first appeared in 2020 and its due date is finally here, as RUF officially launches the new RUF Rodeo at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. The Rodeo is arguably among the most exciting ways to hit up fire roads, thanks to its RUF-developed turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six good for 610 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.
Weighing in at 2,756 pounds, the RUF Rodeo is reinforced with a built-in steel roll cage, though carbon fiber bodywork helps keep the two-door unit light on its feet. Front and rear double-wishbone suspension lies between the RUF Rodeo's chassis and wheel, designed around pushrod-actuated coil-overs and electronically adjustable dampers. True to its cowboy-adjacent name, the suspension system is tuned with off-road use in mind, offering an impressive total of 9.5 inches of ride height. (That's more than a 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser.) Model-specific forged center-lock wheels come wrapped in custom-produced Goodyear 235mm all-terrain tires. Carbon-ceramic brakes are also standard.
Most charming of all, however, is the interior. Inspired by what the Bavarians are calling a "Western Americana" theme, a thick layer of Ralph Lauren ranch-inspired patterned trim is present on every touch point. The grain of the leather graining and stitchwork make nostalgic references to the American Old West, even though the car is produced in Pfaffenhausen.
"At RUF, we are always looking to the future while being inspired by the past, Alois Ruf Jr. said in a statement. "Our new RUF Rodeo is the perfect example. We wanted to create a car that evokes a sense of nostalgia while benefitting from the thrill of modern technology that can let you go anywhere. We have a deep sense of connection to the beauty of the American West and wanted to honor that in the Rodeo. And, most importantly, we wanted to create something fun."
Official production timelines and pricing have yet to be revealed. However, RUF is calling the car seen here a 2025 model year unit, indicating that the Rodeo should enter production by sometime next year. And given the million-dollar price tag of RUF's previous models, we suspect their version of a Safari 911 will be plenty expensive.
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