Bahraini Spirit
April 15th, 2007, 11:30 PM
Well thought this might be interesting for all you car lovers out there. Plus it's somethin new for the region. I've already posted this in the bahrain forum but would like to share it with you:
German sports car maker launches factory at BIC
German sports car manufacturer RUF Automobile celebrated a golden moment in its history with the official launch of its new factory at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The occasion was marked by the launch of its all-new flagship model - the RUF CTR3 supercar.
RUF has become the first sports car manufacturer to build a factory in the Middle East.
The beautifully-designed facility will become a new hub for RUF customers in the Middle East and Asia alongside the marque's traditional home of Pfaffenhausen, situated in southern Germany's Allgu region.
It will also be the main production facility for the all-new CTR3 worldwide.
The factory, designed by the team led by Hermann Tilke, who also designed the BIC, features an eight-storey 34-metre tall glass tower topped with the iconic Arabic tent roof so familiar from the circuit's grandstands and Sakhir Tower.
The tower is flanked by the preassembly and assembly wings, and visiting customers will receive their newly-built RUF model in the VIP lounge on the top floor when the completed car arrives on a spectacular lift.
"Just one year ago we came to Bahrain and laid the foundation stone for this building with Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa," said managing director of RUF Automobile Alois Ruf.
"Back then we stood in a tent and displayed a small model car; now we have an entire factory and the sight and sound of the CTR3 in the flesh, our most advanced vehicle to date and one which will be built here in Bahrain at the BIC."
Among the many important anniversaries being celebrated by RUF Automobile in 2007 is the 20th anniversary of the RUF CTR, the now-legendary 'Yellow Bird' which became the fastest production car available in the world.
The revealing of the RUF CTR3 marks a departure for RUF Automobile, but one that follows the purity of performance design for which the company is renowned.
The CTR3 stands alone as the first RUF vehicle to have a unique chassis construction, with bespoke coachwork made from high-tech, lightweight Kevlar.
The styling of the mid-engined car is curvaceous, redolent of the sculpted sports car designs seen racing at Le Mans in the 1950s and 1960s, designed by talented newcomer Ben Soderberg.
The 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged car delivers shattering performance: 0-100km/h coming in 3.2 seconds and a maximum speed of 375km/h.
A cosmopolitan gathering of 250 guests and media were present from all around the world for the occasion.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/378211191_b754cf7905_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/161/378211186_cb64113324_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/378211189_c9a0dc55e6_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/378211184_5b02290083_o.jpg
And if you're wondering how do those cars look like, check these out:
http://privat.bluezone.no/moa/gamel/supercars/images/RUF%20Porsche%20CTR-2.2.jpg
http://www.supercars.net/carpics/3788/2007_Ruf_CTR31.jpg
http://www.supercars.net/carpics/3788/2007_Ruf_CTR33.jpg
German sports car maker launches factory at BIC
German sports car manufacturer RUF Automobile celebrated a golden moment in its history with the official launch of its new factory at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The occasion was marked by the launch of its all-new flagship model - the RUF CTR3 supercar.
RUF has become the first sports car manufacturer to build a factory in the Middle East.
The beautifully-designed facility will become a new hub for RUF customers in the Middle East and Asia alongside the marque's traditional home of Pfaffenhausen, situated in southern Germany's Allgu region.
It will also be the main production facility for the all-new CTR3 worldwide.
The factory, designed by the team led by Hermann Tilke, who also designed the BIC, features an eight-storey 34-metre tall glass tower topped with the iconic Arabic tent roof so familiar from the circuit's grandstands and Sakhir Tower.
The tower is flanked by the preassembly and assembly wings, and visiting customers will receive their newly-built RUF model in the VIP lounge on the top floor when the completed car arrives on a spectacular lift.
"Just one year ago we came to Bahrain and laid the foundation stone for this building with Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa," said managing director of RUF Automobile Alois Ruf.
"Back then we stood in a tent and displayed a small model car; now we have an entire factory and the sight and sound of the CTR3 in the flesh, our most advanced vehicle to date and one which will be built here in Bahrain at the BIC."
Among the many important anniversaries being celebrated by RUF Automobile in 2007 is the 20th anniversary of the RUF CTR, the now-legendary 'Yellow Bird' which became the fastest production car available in the world.
The revealing of the RUF CTR3 marks a departure for RUF Automobile, but one that follows the purity of performance design for which the company is renowned.
The CTR3 stands alone as the first RUF vehicle to have a unique chassis construction, with bespoke coachwork made from high-tech, lightweight Kevlar.
The styling of the mid-engined car is curvaceous, redolent of the sculpted sports car designs seen racing at Le Mans in the 1950s and 1960s, designed by talented newcomer Ben Soderberg.
The 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged car delivers shattering performance: 0-100km/h coming in 3.2 seconds and a maximum speed of 375km/h.
A cosmopolitan gathering of 250 guests and media were present from all around the world for the occasion.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/378211191_b754cf7905_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/161/378211186_cb64113324_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/378211189_c9a0dc55e6_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/378211184_5b02290083_o.jpg
And if you're wondering how do those cars look like, check these out:
http://privat.bluezone.no/moa/gamel/supercars/images/RUF%20Porsche%20CTR-2.2.jpg
http://www.supercars.net/carpics/3788/2007_Ruf_CTR31.jpg
http://www.supercars.net/carpics/3788/2007_Ruf_CTR33.jpg