► RUF launches what might be its best car yet
► It exercises subtle restraint in the looks department…
► … but monstrous waft in the engine department

This isn’t a Porsche 911. Sure, it looks a lot like a modified 964-generation Porsche 911 but, due to some complicated legal reasons, you should refer to it as the new RUF EHRA.

There are also some important technical reasons why this isn’t a Porsche. For starters, it’s based on RUF’s in-house developed carbon-fibre monocoque chassis and it’s powered by the company’s own twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre flat-six petrol engine.

Plus, it has a completely different interior and far more sophisticated suspension and braking systems than Porsche’s 1980s equivalent – all of which should make it go, stop, steer and feel way better than the classic car from which it draws inspiration.

The RUF EHRA made its debut at the Quail, during this year’s Monterey Car Week. Scroll down to learn everything you need to know about it – starting with its engine.

Go on then. What’s powering this not-a-Porsche?

One hell of an engine. It might only have the same displacement as the 964 Turbo, but it serves up almost double the performance. You get 641bhp and a monstrous 664ft lbs of torque. RUF says that’s enough for a 0–62mph time of 3.3 seconds.

Part of the reason why the EHRA is so quick off the mark is its drivetrain. It has a variable all-wheel drive system that can be dialled all the way back to make the car rear-wheel drive. However, if you stick the chassis in maximum hurt-your-face mode, RUF says it has the grip to set that blistering 0–62mph time.

Interestingly, the EHRA’s engine is mated to a seven-speed manual gearbox with a massively overdriven top gear (0.67, if you’re interested). That’s because RUF is pitching the car as a long-distance tourer rather than a track day barnstormer – and a taller top gear is better for both fuel economy and refinement.

We should also mention that, because the EHRA is basically all carbon fibre, it has a kerb weight of just 1,325kg. That gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 484bhp per tonne, which is about 50bhp per tonne ahead of the Ferrari 458 Speciale and only 6bhp per tonne behind the Bugatti Veyron. Yikes.

To help keep all that poke under control in the corners, RUF gave the EHRA double wishbone suspension all round and a pushrod-actuated dampers (like a Formula One racer). It also has a limited-slip differential, huge six-piston front brakes and utterly gargantuan 12-inch-wide rear tyres.

What about the interior?

There’s very little left of the original Porsche 964 inside. The dashboard top and five-clock gauge cluster bear a strong resemblance to the original car, but almost everything else is new.

There’s a fresh three-spoke steering wheel, a pair of carbon-fibre backed bucket seats, a gorgeous climate control panel with turned metal dials and a sneaky infotainment screen hiding atop a redesigned centre console.

RUF has also beautifully blended some modern switchgear into the EHRA’s retro cabin. Some of this, such as the headlight switch above the driver’s knee, has been pinched from the Volkswagen parts bin. However, the buttons on the new centre console have been designed specifically for the car.

Anything else worth mentioning?

Of course. The EHRA has an active rear spoiler in place of the enormous ducktail you’ll normally find on the back of a RUF. The brand says it automatically deploys at ‘highway speeds’, although the driver can also raise it manually using a switch in the cabin. And it’s made of carbon fibre. Because what else would it made from?

But we’re not done yet. There are a couple more design features worth highlighting, such as the hidden air intakes in the rear quarter lights and the shaved handles that electronically extended out of the doors. Tweaks like these are just obvious enough to be noticed by enthusiasts, but subtle enough to not raise suspicion from casual observer. It’s classy.

Then there’s the badge: the EHRA is named after the Ehra-Lessien proving ground, at which the likes of Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche develop their newest cars. It’s also the track at which the iconic RUF CTR ‘Yellowbird’ demolished the Ferrari F40’s top speed record by a solid 10mph back in 1987.

The EHRA will appear on RUF’s stand alongside the off-road-inspired Rodeo, the naturally aspirated SCR, the firm’s modern successor to the CTR ‘Yellowbird’ and the CTR3 EVO.