Gumpert is a German-based company building supercars. The first model produced is the Apollo. Founder and owner of Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH is Roland Gumpert, former head of Audi Sport. Audi scored 2 drivers and 2 constructors World Rally Championship titles during his time there. The company is based at Altenburg, Thuringia.
The Gumpert Apollo is the first supercar produced by Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH in Germany. The project is the creation of Roland Gumpert, a former Audi employee who oversaw many a rallying success working as competitions chief in their Quattro division. Gumpert's partner is Roland Mayer, the boss of German tuning house MTM.
Gumpert are now assembling a range of the most daring supercars built around Audi components. Their first saleable product, which has started its show rounds, is a production version of the Apollo mid-engine supercar seen earlier this year. It's powered by a twin turbo Audi V8, and if the spec tables are to be believed, new owners can be treated to 60mph in just 3.0 seconds.
Production: Gumpert hopes to produce 150 Apollos between 2005 and 2008. Pricing: Prices start at 198,000 EUR / £190,000 GBP / $380,000 USD. The Apollo is a 1100 kg (2425 lb), street-legal race car with up to 650 hp (485 kW) and 627 ft·lbf (850 N·m) of torque, designed to take on the Porsche 911 GT3, it is a mid engined, rear wheel drive two seater constructed on a tubular Chromoly frame, with fiberglass or optional carbon fiber body panels.
The Apollo just might be capable of such a run. Its carbon fibre body sits atop a chrome molybdenum alloy and steel frame that supports an RS6 engine cranked out to 650 bhp. With this setup the Gumpert has a better power to weight ratio than the big 'Mac'Laren F1. Although, some customers might opt out of the carbon for a GRP body and a have the superchared 440 bhp option to save a few dollars, or maybe a little sanity.
An Audi 4.2L V8 engine is joined to a six-speed sequential gearbox with Formula 1 influences. Estimated top speed is 360 km/h (224 mph) with 0-100 km/h (0–62 mph) reached in 3.0 seconds, making it the 9th best accelerating production car in the world, behind the Ariel Atom.
Other niceties include a sequential 6-speed transmission, a twin clutch system attached to that, an inboard suspension setup and as much down force as a DTM car. All of this down force is created by the under tray which means the Apollo has no fussy wings and instead, two massive venturis extending the length of the car that increase the drag to 0.43 Cd.
Sensibly, the Apollo has huge brakes hiding behind its 19 inch center-lock wheels. To keep speed in check, 8-piston calipers grab 15 inch discs on all four wheels and an ABS system is included. Gumpert say they are production ready and can make cars ranging from 150 to 220 thousand euros. They are suggesting that a full-on race version might be feasible, but until then we patiently wait for The Nurburgring lap time.
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