RUF DEBUTS NEW 1,000-HORSEPOWER BOXER-EIGHT PROTOTYPE ENGINE

The company’s first-ever eight-cylinder boxer continues a long legacy of engineering prowess and hints at the next generation of RUF performance

Goodwood, England (July 9, 2026) – German car manufacturer RUF Automobile today announced the world debut of a new RUF Boxer Engine with eight (8) cylinders. Known internally as the “Erprober” or “Tester,” the in-house designed and developed 4.8-liter twin-turbocharged eight-cylinder boxer engine develops over 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 Nm of torque. Making its debut at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Boxer 8, or “B8”, will announce its unique sound during the Supercar Run twice per day from Friday, July 10, through Sunday, July 12, driven by racing legend Tanner Foust. The new development engine is concealed within a lengthened CTR3 test vehicle, which will be on display in the Supercar Paddock throughout the event.

The B8 is not yet a production model but serves as a dedicated testbed for technologies that will shape a future RUF model. Each new RUF begins life long before the world sees it, with thousands of kilometers of rigorous testing to ensure its extreme performance is matched with equal parts durability and drivability, supported by high-performance MOTUL lubricants in the development of the B8.

By bringing the B8 to Goodwood and participating with it in the Supercar Run, RUF pays homage to its “hidden in plain sight” testing approach. RUF prefers to show its engineering prowess rather than tell, and with each run up the hill RUF looks forward to letting the world hear the unique sound of its twin-turbo boxer-eight for the first time.

“There are moments in a company's history that define the future,” said Alois Ruf. “For RUF, the Boxer 8 is one of those moments. A boxer-eight has never been part of our story, or anyone else's in this form, so we decided to write a new chapter in automotive history. We look forward to letting the engine speak for itself at Goodwood.”

At first glance, the B8 appears to be enclosed in a standard CTR3, but upon closer inspection, subtle details reveal its true purpose as a testing platform for RUF’s new Boxer 8 development engine. The CTR3’s body has been stretched by 100 millimeters to accommodate the boxer-eight, which runs through a RUF six-speed manual transmission. The decision to use the CTR3 supercar was strategic, allowing RUF to test the limits of the new engine’s performance while remaining under the radar.

The specialized CTR3’s exterior features a new livery that reflects the spirit of evolution. Created in collaboration with Aloisa Ruf and OPTIMA Batteries, the design draws inspiration from the unmistakable Blossom Yellow color of the legendary CTR Yellowbird. Flowing graphics symbolize the number eight in continuous motion, representing the B8 designation while celebrating RUF’s relentless process of engineering, testing and refinement. It is a visual expression of energy, motion and the art of prototyping.

"When designing the B8 livery, I wanted the graphics to tell the story of the car before anyone even heard the engine,” said Alosia Ruf. “Every line represents movement, and the flowing form of the number eight became a natural symbol, not only for the new boxer eight-cylinder, but for the endless pursuit of improvement and refinement that has always been part of our family's philosophy. Combined with the unmistakable Blossom Yellow of the CTR Yellowbird, the design honors our heritage while looking confidently toward the future."

A special thanks and photo credit to Hans Dieter Seufert and Huckleberry Mountain for their outstanding work.

For more information on RUF Automobile, visit ruf-automobile.de/en/ or on social media at @rufsince1939.