Completely new, from a new company – that’s the sensational
Gumpert Apollo exotic car. It has a top speed of around 220 mph, and the makers say that the 640 bhp engine will get it to 60 mph in 3 seconds. That is very, very quick – up with the fastest cars around. Now, there is a 700 bhp version available.
So what is the Gumpert Apollo? What is Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur, and can they make good exotic cars? Roland Gumpert was a leading light in the development of the Audi quattro rally cars for many years, and so not only does he know all about fast cars, but also has access to Audi components – and the heart of the Apollo is a twin-turbo 4.2 liter V-8 supplied by Audi, but tuned to very high levels to get 640 bhp.
Also involved in Gumpert Sportwagen- manufaktur is Roland Mayer of MTM, so this company has the backing of some pretty qualified German engineers. They decided to go for the out-and-out super-sports route when they developed the Apollo exotic car – it looks as if it has been built for track racing.
Very low coupe with sports-racing looks
This is a very low coupe, with a large, flat air dam at the front and three large intakes to give plenty of cooling. Large air outlets behind the front wheels, and massive air intakes just forward of the rear wheels complete the image that this might be aimed at the track.
Then, the front fenders are curved to follow the line of the wheel, and go straight back to meet the rear fenders, as on a racer. There is a fastback coachroof, with a small air intake on top. The car originally had a taller air intake, just like on Grand Prix cars, but this was no doubt thought to be a bit impractical. There is no rear window – just use the mirrors.
At the back, a large, separate wing generates downforce, and there are three outlets to get the hot air out and to act as diffusers. In fact, the car evidently produces masses of downforce, and so is stable at very high speeds.
This exciting car also has gull-wing doors, not just to make the car look different and ease access, but also to leave space for deep sills. These sills hide a very strong and stiff structure, which would make it difficult to get into and out of the car with normal doors.
Overall, this is a good looking car, especially if you want people to think you have just driven from the track – which you might well have done. It is 175 inches long, which is typical for a car of this type and power.
The interior is typical, too. There is a small wheel, with a flat bottom section, and a simple instrument panel – with plenty of minor instruments – flanked by an air vent each side. The gear lever is right by the wheel, and the trim is simple. In fact, production versions may not have a gear lever, but twin shift paddles on the wheel, as the gearbox is of the sequential type.
Audi V8 tuned to 641 bhp
As I said, heart of the Gumpert Apollo is a highly tuned Audi 4.2 liter V-8, this being an engine with five valves per cylinder for good breathing. The power boost comes from the addition of a pair of turbochargers and intercoolers. Gumpert quotes a power output of 641 bhp at 6,000 rpm with massive torque of 627 lb ft (850 Nm) at 4,500 rpm. The red line is set at 7,400 rpm, allowing plenty of overspeeding.
Undoubtedly a very powerful engine, although it must be said that many buyers of exotic cars prefer the noise and feel of a naturally aspirated engine. If that’s you, don’t worry, a naturally aspirated version is due soon, but that will develop 350-400 bhp.
or 700 bhp, or even 800 bhp if you will
On the other hand, if you want more power, Gumpert says it can supply engines producing 700 or 800 bhp, pushing it up into the realms of the top exotic cars in power output, after the Bugatti Veyron and Koenigsegg CCR. When it comes to power, these guys mean business.
The engine is coupled to a six-speed sequential gearbox, mounted longitudinally in the traditional manner. This layout gives a good weight distribution of 42% front:58% rear.
Space frame and carbon fiber module
Gumpert has adopted an interesting structure, which is ideal for low-volume manufacture, but avoids the complication of a full length carbon fiber monocoque. Instead, there is a fully-triangulated space frame with a carbon fiber passenger module. Space frames need to be fully triangulated to give maximum strength and stiffness without excessive weight, and the Gumpert Apollo is an example of how to do it.
Racing type suspension
Of course, the suspension and mechanical units are all mounted directly to the tubular frame. Double wishbones, with the linkage designed to reduce dive and squat, are used front and rear. Both front and rear spring/damper units are mounted inboard almost horizontally, actuated by pushrods. There are also anti-roll bars front and rear, and you can adjust the ride height to suit.
To ensure you can get the driving experience you want, there is a traction control, which can be set to four different settings, to give different amounts of control, and ABS. The steering has electro-hydraulic assistance.
The car is shod with Pirelli tires , 255/35ZR19 on 10-inch rims at the front, and 345/35ZR19 on 13-inch rims at the rear. The brakes have six-pot calipers acting on 15-inch (378 mm) diameter discs.
As the car is built like a racer, it is much lighter than some more luxuriously equipped exotic cars, with a claimed curb (kerb) weight of 2,420 lb (1,100 kg), which is very low, and shows that you don’t need to use an all carbon fiber structure to produce a lightweight car. For example, this is 420 lb (190 kg) less than the Ascari KZ1, which has a full carbon fiber hull. The car is also down to the weight of the fabulous McLaren F1.
Overall, this seems an amazing exotic car. So long as you want a super-sports car, which you use on the track and for blasting along deserted roads, this is a real bargain at about $240,000 or 160,000 Euros.
(Images copyright Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur)
