- The Rodeo’s got the goods: AWD, off-road tires and a raised suspension.
- This Concept is designed to work with naturally-aspirated and boosted engines.
- No confirmation if it will be built – it probably will, in limited numbers.
Let’s address the name first: It’s called the Rodeo because the idea for the car was inspired by the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance and by Ralph Lauren’s Spring 2011 Western Collection. That’s the answer, apparently. Because, as all Porsche fans know, there’s such a thing as the 911 Safari which is essentially the same thing minus the AWD application. Anyhow, the RUF Rodeo Concept is very cool.
There’s no arguing this point. The Rodeo is based on the SCR and CTR, both of which are “inspired” by the 964 generation 911, and can respectively be powered by a 500+horsepower naturally aspirated 4.0-litre boxer-engine or by a 700-horsepower 3.6-litre twin-turbo flat-six engine.
Although it’s unknown if RUF will build a limited production run of the Rodeo Concept, what the company’s presented is a rugged-looking, raised, AWD Porsche 911 that, like the Safari, is more at home crossing the desert at high rates of speed than rock climbing.
Some touches, like the painted-on flares (as per the pictures) and shovel on the rear boot-lid are a little silly but we love the quad front fog lights, push-bar (or bull-bar) and roof rack. Oh, and a truck-load of points for the superb western-patterned race buckets.
