The Gumpert Apollo is a sports car produced by German automotive manufacturer Apollo Automobil in Altenburg. Apollo Automobil filed for bankruptcy in August 2013, thereby ending the production of the Apollo.
History
In 2000,
Roland Gumpert proposed a new generation of
. One of the primary criteria for this car was that it be street-legal yet ready for the racetrack. He returned to Germany at the end of 2001, after over three years in
China where he was the head of sales and marketing responsible for the development of the dealer network of the
Audi-
Volkswagen joint enterprise there. Subsequently, automobile designer Roland Mayer asked him if he would assist in building a prototype
sports car. Audi approved Gumpert's involvement in this project, on the condition that, if they did eventually develop a new sports car, it would not be a
prototype, but a series product.
The company, located in Altenburg, Germany was founded in 2004 under the name GMG Sportwagenmanufaktur Altenburg GmbH. The technical guidelines were defined and the first designs of the car were drawn by Marco Vanetta. Upon Vanetta's completion of this process, the first 1:4 scale model of Gumpert's car was produced in 2001.
Gumpert continued with the development of the Apollo, along with the Technical University of Munich and the Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences. They assisted him with the construction, simulation, and wind tunnel. This research and development helped forming the blueprint for the first 1:1 scale model. Finally, two prototype cars were constructed.
The philosophy behind this vehicle was to make Roland Gumpert's Le Mans dreams come true.
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Soon after the first fully functioning road car made its way to Europe, the car became fully road-legal and was sold in various Gumpert dealerships. Very soon after, car reviewers praised the car's speed and cornering. During a review in Autocar magazine, chief test driver Matt Prior stated that "the Apollo recalibrates the meaning of pure speed and driving feel." On Series 11 of Top Gear, the Apollo lapped the Top Gear test track in a time of 1:17.1, setting a record that lasted for 2 years until surpassed by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.
Design
The Apollo weighs between and (depending on options), and is fully street-legal. It is a mid-engine, rear wheel drive two-seater constructed on a tubular
chromoly frame, with
fiberglass or optional
carbon fibre body panels. Gumpert claims the design of the Apollo is optimised so that the car could drive upside-down in a tunnel if driven at speeds over ,
[ Gumpert Homepage] but this has not been tested.
The Apollo set a 7:11.57 lap time at Nürburgring achieved by German car magazine Sport Auto.
Engine
The Apollo uses a 4,163 cc
bi-turbo intercooled version of the Audi V8 engine.
The 90° V8 has a closed-deck light metal crankcase with
dry sump lubrication. The light metal cylinder heads have five valves per cylinder, four overhead camshafts,
VarioCam Direct variable valve timing on the intakes, and hydraulic valve clearance compensation. The double-flow exhaust system has four
to monitor the gas mixture, and a 3-way catalytic converter. Modern controls include an on-board diagnostic system, eight-coil electronic ignition, sequential multipoint
fuel injection, and an electronic (drive by wire) accelerator system.
There were 3 engine types available:
-
Base version - approximately
-
Sport version - approximately
-
Race version - approximately
Speed overview (650 hp):
-
Top speed:
-
0-: 3.1 seconds
-
0-: 9.1 seconds
External links
