And here are a few more up-close photos from The Quail (thanks Tim!)
Photography Credits: Courtesy RUF (Bergmeister), Kevin Adolf (Bergsteiger)
BimmerWorld’s Bergsteiger is fairly well known in these parts. The Pikes Peak special has graced GRM’s cover, while driver/ringleader James Clay recently told us about the most harrowing part of the experience: driving the much-modified BMW M3 back down Pikes Peak after his timed competition run.
RUF, long known for its modified Porsches, unveiled its Bergmeister today. But, as anyone who has seen “Highlander,” the 1986 sci-fi action flick featuring plenty of swordplay, flashbacks and Sean Connery, can tell you, there can be only one.
[Driving the Modern Interpretation of the Famed Yellowbird]
More info on the challenger from the release:
The never-before-seen Bergmeister is inspired by the legendary Porsche 906, the 909 Bergspyder and the 718 RS 60 Spyder hillclimb cars and was designed by Tony Hatter. Mounted in the rear is a dry sump, RUF-engineered, air-cooled 3.6-liter single-turbocharged flat-six engine producing 450 bhp and 442 lb-ft of torque, connected to a six-speed manual transmission.
The Bergmeister all-carbon skinned roadster combines the best of classic design and modern engineering in a package ready to master both road and track. True to RUF’s heritage, the pursuit of the perfect driving experience has never been more visceral. Black Alcantara lines the entire interior and the driver sits in bucket seats, with an Alcantara-clad steering wheel rounding out the driving experience. With its direct steering, the Bergmeister responds to the slightest wheel input and ensures precise handling.
Sitting remotely from my desk having seen neither in person the Bergmeister certainly looks like a fun thing but I don't think it's really an equal to the Bergsteiger. One is a dedicated Racecar, the other appears to be a Street/Track art excercise.
If you where going for Bespoke German thing supremacy you would have to probably compare the Bergmeister to something from Singer.
If you where going for peak over the top German Racecar you would have to compare Bergsteiger to the Hoonipig.
Which conveniently enough is at Monterey somewhere so please go find it and drool all over it like we all would if we could be near it. I just want to see more pictures of it and hear what it looks like in person. As a fan of completely over the top racecars Bergsteiger and the Hoonipig are on my list of cars I really hope I get to see someday IRL but for now I would accept GRMs thoughts.
For those comparisons I can't pick a winner. I think we win because all of them exist. For the Racecars we will let the hill decide next year assuming both cars get a clean run.
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