Ruf Unveils 650-HP Ehra Grand Tourer at Monterey, Adding All-Wheel Drive

Q: Why did RUF name their new grand tourer after the track where they famously chased top speed records?

RUF named the new Ehra after Ehra-Lessien to tie the car directly to the defining moment in the company’s history: the 1987 211 mph run by the CTR Yellowbird at that proving ground, which made RUF internationally famous. The choice is symbolic as much as historical. By naming the car after the place rather than simply reviving the Yellowbird name, RUF is emphasizing the achievement and the brand legacy behind it, not just copying a past model. It signals that the new car is meant to carry forward the same values that built RUF’s reputation: serious engineering, high-speed stability, and driver involvement. That matters because the Ehra is not being pitched as another top-speed record hunter. RUF presents it as a grand-touring evolution of the CTR Anniversary, with everyday usability, all-wheel drive, and long-distance comfort, while still delivering 650 hp and a seven-speed manual. The name therefore works as a tribute to RUF’s breakthrough moment while also reframing that legacy for a more refined, road-focused car. In short, the name “Ehra” is a deliberate nod to the proving ground where RUF became a legend, used here to connect the new model to that history without turning it into a simple retro remake.

3 articles · Updated · Jalopnik · Aug 14

Ruf introduced the Ehra at Monterey Car Week as its first grand tourer, pairing a carbon-fiber monocoque with a 650-hp twin-turbo 3.6-liter flat-six and all-wheel drive.
664 lb-ft of torque goes through a seven-speed manual, while Ruf says the drivetrain is tuned for daily usability and traction without losing rear-drive character.
Just under 3,000 pounds, the widebody Ehra adds double-wishbone suspension, pushrod-actuated adaptive dampers and an active rear spoiler in a more subdued design than the CTR line.
The model extends Ruf's long-running 911-inspired carbon-tub family at The Quail, where the boutique automaker is targeting affluent buyers, though pricing and production remain undisclosed.