While most 650-horsepower performance cars rely on automatics and computer intervention to chase faster lap times, RUF's EHRA goes with a seven-speed manual instead. This isn't nostalgia for nostalgia's sake—it's a clear statement of intent. Power gets routed through the manual gearbox into a full-time variable all-wheel-drive system with a limited-slip differential, and the engineering team deliberately preserved a rear-biased handling character. In 2026, when electronic control is practically standard on high-performance cars, a combination like this speaks for itself.
The name EHRA comes from RUF's long-standing test track, Ehra-Lessien, where driver Phil Hill once set a top-speed record behind the wheel of the original CTR Yellowbird—one of the most iconic moments in RUF's brand history. But this time, RUF has stretched that same philosophy beyond pure top speed, applying it instead to longer distances and a broader range of driving conditions. The EHRA made its world debut at Monterey Car Week 2026, positioned clearly apart from the CTR Anniversary, which is built around top-speed records, even though the two share RUF's own carbon-fiber monocoque platform.
The most immediate visual difference is proportion. The front track has been widened by 58mm and the rear by 54mm, giving the car a wide-body stance, while the tail stretches into a long-distance fastback silhouette. This time, RUF ditched its signature fixed whale-tail spoiler in favor of a carbon-fiber wing that automatically rises at high speed and can also be controlled manually from inside the cabin. The front and rear lines have been redrawn to manage airflow and cooling, with five-spoke center-lock forged wheels tucked beneath the widened body.
