[EvilNeal]

Porsche tweaker Ruf makes an 8-cylinder 911, the mighty 542bhp RGT-8 supercar Courtesy of Evo.com

http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/24...rsche_911.html

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.

Not quite a V8, it’s an eight-cylinder engine with a 180 degree ‘flatcrank’. 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 eight-cylinder 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.

[Omnis]

How does a flat crank make it not quite a v8? It makes it an awesome-sounding v8.

[Jim Prower]

Omnis

How does a flat crank make it not quite a v8? It makes it an awesome-sounding v8.

It makes it two four cylinders strapped together, is what it does...

[Omnis]

Jim Prower

It makes it two four cylinders strapped together, is what it does...

In a V configuration, just like all other V8s. For a second I thought it meant it had one of those "flat" Vs, which are not quite "V"s.

Is there any video of this thing? I bet it freaking hauls.

[ExigeEvan]

Omnis

In a V configuration, just like all other V8s. For a second I thought it meant it had one of those "flat" Vs, which are not quite "V"s.

Is there any video of this thing? I bet it freaking hauls.

If it's got a 180 degree V, surely that makes it flat...

[Philly]

It's a flat-V8?

I'm wondering:

• Where did the engine come from? It would cost a lot to design an engine for one limited application.
• When do we see Porsche ditch their current V8s for this one? I think it'd be awesome to have the Cayenne and Panamera using flat-8 power, sorta like the 911 ish.

[homeforsummer]

ExigeEvan

If it's got a 180 degree V, surely that makes it flat...

You'd think so, but I'm sure there's some technicality with engines like that that makes it a "V" still, even when it's blatantly not V shaped.

It's awesome though. Even if it didn't have a special engine the thing looks great inside and out.

[niky]

A flat 8 is not a V. A flat-plane crank V8 still isn't a flat 8.

Wonder who built the engine for them, and what base engines they sourced the two four-cylinders from? There are outfits building Siamese V8s, but this one doesn't look familiar.

[Radracing]

Might as well stick it in a Porsche Cayman. I think it would work better as a mid engine or maybe they are waiting for the 918 Spyder bodies.

[CarBastard]

Duuuuuude this is veery interesting! And it's a RUF! Not a Porsche, a RUF which might mean... It may be in GT5 . Thanks for sharing it.

Also, can someone please explain me why a 180 degrees V8 isn't considered simply a flat 8 (or B8)? Don't they have the same basic shape?

[Philly]

niky

A flat 8 is not a V. A flat-plane crank V8 still isn't a flat 8.

That makes more sense. I was wondering how they managed a flat-8 with a crank at the bottom and the heads/exhaust at an angle higher up.

[EvilNeal]

@ CarBastard: Indeed mate, that's why I posted it



Apparently it's an in-house engine, definitely looks like a V to me! A flat plane crank (like Ferrari use) has 180 degrees firing order rather than 90 degrees like a Rover V8 (While production V8 engines use four crank throws spaced 90 degrees apart, high-performance V8 engines often use a "flat" crankshaft with throws spaced 180 degrees apart. The difference can be heard as the flat-plane crankshafts result in the engine having a smoother, higher-pitched sound than cross-plane (for example, IRL IndyCar Series compared to NASCAR Nextel Cup, or a Ferrari 355 compared to a Chevrolet Corvette)

I'll let the man explain, English speaking guy starts at 55 seconds



Also

[Dijital Majik]

Stunning looking car, I'm sure it'll go like stink too. Can't wait to hopefully get hands on this in GT5! Thanks for posting, and the videos too.

Also, it was funny to hear Alois Ruf drop in a little broken Japanese at the begining of his speech in the first video.

[CarBastard]

Ohhhhh sort of got it now, thanks . It's basically defined by the shape the engine has on the lower bit, because this one really still looks like a V8 and not a B8.

[mafia_boy]

That car looks stunning!! To fit any 8 cylinder in that engine bay is an achievement in itself and props must go to RUF for taking a chance and doing this car.

10/10 from me for execution....can't wait to see vids of this thing running around a road or track somewhere in the near future.

[Keef]

CarBastard

Ohhhhh sort of got it now, thanks . It's basically defined by the shape the engine has on the lower bit, because this one really still looks like a V8 and not a B8.

No, it doesn't have anything to do with the shape of the engine.

This engine is a 90 degree V8. You can clearly see the V shape. The pistons point in a V shape, and if you measured the angle between the V it is 90 degrees.

That has nothing to do with the crankshaft itself. The crankshaft is a 180 degree crankshaft. That means that the 8 journals on it stick out 180 degrees from each other, 4 pointing one way and 4 pointing directly opposite.

The article's writer is confused.

[Omnis]

The writer isn't confused. He said it has a 180 degree flat crank. The cylinders are of course aligned at ~90 degrees.

[homeforsummer]

niky

A flat 8 is not a V. A flat-plane crank V8 still isn't a flat 8.

Thanks for clarifying. I didn't take much notice of the article, nor (strangely) the pictures of the actual engine, so peoples' talk of flat engines had me confused. It's a flat-plane crank V8, in the same manner that Ferrari uses a flat-plane crank V8 in the 458/430/360/355/348 etc etc.

[Keef]

Omnis

The writer isn't confused. He said it has a 180 degree flat crank. The cylinders are of course aligned at ~90 degrees.

You're right, he's not confused. He's an idiot. He thinks this 90 degree V8 is "not quite a V8".

homeforsummer

Thanks for clarifying. I didn't take much notice of the article, nor (strangely) the pictures of the actual engine, so peoples' talk of flat engines had me confused. It's a flat-plane crank V8, in the same manner that Ferrari uses a flat-plane crank V8 in the 458/430/360/355/348 etc etc.

Exactly. Speaking of which, I want to hear this thing run. I bet it sounds amazing.

[Omnis]

Keef

You're right, he's not confused. He's an idiot. He thinks this 90 degree V8 is "not quite a V8".

Oh, right. Forgot about that part.

The engine designer also designed the engines for the 917 and Mercedes Group C. This car is like a wet dream.