project
Homage
to a
legend
RUF Automobile GmbH | RUF Bergmeister
project
The
mountain
is calling
The sports car "RUF Bergmeister" is a homage to the legendary Porsche 909 “Bergspyder” from 1968. studiokurbos and former Porsche designer Tony Hatter work closely together in the design development and transport an icon into the present: individual, suitable for everyday use and uncompromisingly sporty. The vehicle was presented exclusively to a selected audience for the first time on August 20th 2022 at the Monterey Car Week in California / Pebble Beach.
features
performance
and
individuality
The key product features at a glance:
- 6-liter air-cooled turbocharged flat-six
- 450 horsepower
- 600 Nm torque
- Dry-sump lubrication
- Six-speed manual
- Rear wheel drive
- Limited-slip differential
- 350mm carbon-ceramic brakes
- 220 mph speedometer
- Carbon-fiber body skin
Design
Homage
to a 909
Bergspyder
Even when stationary, the “RUF Bergmeister” unleashes its full power. After all, it literally has nothing to hide: In the style of the „Bergspyder“, the lower part of the rear end remains completely open, revealing the monoturbo and the exhaust system. Underneath the bodywork is a Porsche 993 Cabrio, which has been converted into a speedster. Tony Hatter, who worked as a designer at Porsche for over thirty years, was able to fully contribute his visions and impulses to this project and was instrumental in shaping the development in close collaboration with the studiokurbos design team.
Focus
Concise
rear
design
The striking rear view creates an unusual and dynamic silhouette. The open and detailed rear thus contrasts excitingly with the reduced side view. A single line guides the eye directly to the extroverted rear view and leaves the stage to it. The front design is dominated by the large air intakes, which draw the visual center of gravity toward the road and thus emphasize the typical sports car character.
vision
Revival
of a
classic
studiokurbos also based its colour and material concept on the 1968 icon. The “Bergspyder” was released in 2 designs - red-white and green-white. These colour concepts were reinterpreted and make a self-confident statement in a modern look with neon red-white and emerald green-white. As a racing car, the „Bergspyder“ was developed as a single-seater. In contrast, RUF focuses on more functionality and offers the “RUF Bergmeister” as a two-seater sports car. Nevertheless, the uncompromising driver orientation is emphasized with a black or red seat in the colour scheme. Rally stripes, add-on parts in carbon, an "RBS" (RUF Bergmeister) logo and the start number design provide an authentic motorsport feel.
Process
Fully digital
design
process
In the design creation process, model development always plays a crucial role in helping customers and designers decide on the final shape of the vehicle. This is best done in three dimensions. For this reason, this project opts for a purely virtual design development process. In this process, very precise CAD models are combined with polygon models. The advantages: With the help of VR technology, the customer and the design team can see the vehicle in three dimensions, decide on changes and implement them much faster and more efficiently without having to compromise on quality. The final model is then implemented by hand at RUF Automobile GmbH and produced in small series.
"The "RUF Bergmeister" was an exciting challenge for all of us: how do we honour the DNA of the icon of yesteryear on the one hand and find the independent design language of a modern sports car on the other? The result is not a compromise, but the best of both worlds."
Andreas Kurbos, Founder & CEO
insight
Technology
holistic
customer
experience
With the help of VR technology, the customer can experience the vehicle in three dimensions with the design team, decide on changes and implement them more quickly. In addition to surfaces, materials and structures can be simulated and even embedded in corresponding landscapes in the background. This provides a very real and distinctive look that perfectly captures the vehicle's message. Consequently, the design process becomes faster, more cost-effective, and more immediately tangible than ever before.
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