Geneva Motor Show : Remember the humble Gumpert Apollo, the sensible Teutonic family runabout that accidentally smashed the Top Gear lap record last year?
Well, the German hobbyists behind the Apollo have decided that 650bhp and a 200mph top speed are a bit modest, so have gone in search of even more fastness with this: the Apollo Speed. Wasn’t he one of the baddies in Rocky?
Anyhow. It’s all about minimising drag, this slicker, sleeker Apollo. The rear wing has gone, and instead you get fixed wheel covers – like on them F1 cars – a fully enclosed underbody, a smaller roof-mounted air intake, and a revised tail. That means a bit less downforce (and likely a slightly slower TG lap) but an improved top speed: Gumpert won’t give exact numbers, but reckon it’ll be in excess of 224mph. Yowch.
Not that the Apollo Speed will be slow off the line, exactly. 62mph appears in less than three seconds, while 124mph is cracked in nine seconds flat. And, impressively, it’s still road legal.
“Yes, you can drive it on the road,” a Gumpert spokesman on the Geneva stand told us. “But we’d prefer it if you had a race licence. Just to be safe.”
He then followed it up by describing the Apollo Speed as ‘a proper horse’, so take from that what you will. But one thing’s for sure, this is a monster of a car. Bring on the Murcielago SV twin-test.
Gumpert is a German company based in Altenburg / Thuringia, Germany. The German brand was founded by former Audi Sports department manager Roland Gumpert who was in charge of 25 victories in World Championship races and 4 Rallye World Championship titles.
Prices for the GUMPERT apollo with a 4.2 l Biturbo engine start at just $595,00 (EUR 301,600).
* GUMPERT apollo speed (515kw variant)
* Transmission: sequential six-speed gearbox with synchronisation and oil cooling, twin plate clutch configuration (diameter 2 x 200 mm), rear-wheel drive, differential lock by Torsen
* Chassis: long and pushrod-operated double transverse control arm suspension with fully adjustable dampers front and rear and anti roll bar in front
* Brakes: two circuit BOSCH-ABS brake system with six piston callipers, inside ventilated discs (378 x 32 mm) all around
* Wheels & Tires: Aluminium cast wheels with centre look front: 255/35 ZR19 rear: 345/35 ZR19
* Dry weight: 1.200 kg (For cars with standard equipment without filling. Special equipment may increase this value.)
* Allowed total weight: 1,500 kg
* Length: 4,460 mm
* Width: 1,998 mm
* Height: 1,105 mm
* Wheel base: 2,700 mm
* Wheel gauge: front: 1,670 mm, rear: 1,598 mm
* Tank capacity: 120 litre
* Engine: V8-cylinder-Biturbomotor with 90o cylinder angle, light metal cylinder heads with 5 valves per cylinder, four overhead camshafts, hydraulic valve clearance compensation, double-flow exhaust system with three-way catalytic converter, dry sump lubrication
* Cubic capacity: 4,163 cm3
* Engine performance: 515 kW (700 HP) at 6.500 rev/min
* Maximum torque: 875 Nm at 4.000 rev/min
* Litre performance: 123,7 kW/Litre (168 HP/Litre)
* Maximum rev.: 7,200 rev/min
* Top speed: > 360 km/h / 224 mph (Depeding on equipment, county related specification, gear ratio and engine power)
* Acceleration figures: 0-100 km/h in 3,0 s
* 0-200 km/h in 8,9 s
Gumpert Apollo Speed
Gumpert Apollo Speed
Gumpert Apollo Speed
