RUF Brings Back the Flat-8 Engine After Half a Century

For the first time in decades, a flat-8 engine is back in production, and it comes from a surprising source. 8-liter flat-8 that churns out an even 1,000 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. The engine, internally called the B8, marks a dramatic departure from the company’s usual fare and has already turned heads across the automotive world.

Why has the flat-8 been so rare? The answer is simple: width. These engines are inherently wide, making them a nightmare to fit into anything but purpose-built race cars. Porsche experimented with a handful of flat-8 racers and prototypes in the 1960s, including the 804 Formula 1 car and the 908 endurance racer, but never brought one to full production.

RUF’s B8 changes that, packaging the massive boxer into a stretched CTR3, a mid-engine hypercar that already packed 800 hp in its Evo trim.

The B8-powered CTR3 is currently a test mule, but RUF has confirmed it will shape a future production model. The car made its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it ran the hillclimb six times over the weekend. To help it stand out among a field of exotica, RUF wrapped the car in a Blossom Yellow livery inspired by the iconic Yellowbird, with flowing graphics that incorporate the number eight.

According to Aloisa Ruf, the design tells the car’s story before anyone even hears the engine.