{"id":9704,"date":"2016-01-15T18:13:23","date_gmt":"2016-01-15T18:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.supercars.net\/blog\/?p=9704"},"modified":"2024-09-05T00:48:50","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T00:48:50","slug":"2007-gumpert-apollo-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/2007-gumpert-apollo-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"2007 Gumpert Apollo Sport"},"content":{"rendered":"

2007 Gumpert Apollo Sport<\/h1>\n
Contents<\/strong>
\nGerman Supercar<\/a>
\nEngine & Performance<\/a>
\nChassis & Handling<\/a>
\nDesign & Interior<\/a>
\nPerformance & Specs<\/a>
\nEngine & Drivetrain<\/a>
\nStats & Numbers<\/a>
\nPictures & Videos<\/a>
\nReviews<\/a><\/div>\n

Gumpert? Apollo? – The Who, What, Where, When & Why<\/h3>\n

Gumpert is a German boutique automaker, remembered best for its remarkable foray into the supercar segment with the release of the 2007 Gumpert Apollo Sport more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n

Named after the former chief engineer and head of Audi Motorsport – Roland Gumpert – during the 1980s , the company was founded and run by the same with the goal of creating a new generation of sports cars. After being hugely responsible for numerous World Rally championships during his run as the gaffer, the now retired motorsport icon was itching to take on this unique challenge.<\/p>\n

The primary concept of his business model was to produce cars which were would provide groundbreaking performance on the racetrack, with the equal importance of being completely road legal. After a stint working some corporate gigs at Audi-VW in the early 200s, he proposed his ideas to the higher-ups at the company and was eventually given the green light to undertake the building of a new supercar with an arms-length collaboration with the german automaker.<\/p>\n

The most symbolic aspect of this partnership would be the use of Audi\u2019s twin-turbocharged 4.2L V8 engine for the first production wave, which was derived from the C5 generation Audi RS6. <\/p>\n

In 2004, Gumpert would found his new company under the corporate name of GMG Sportwagenmanufaktur Altenburg GmbH, and have it headquartered in Altenburg, Germany. He would go on to garner business relationships with the Technical University of Munich and the Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences, who would both provide assistance with the production processes, computer simulations and wind tunnel testing. <\/p>\n

This ensemble of resources and technical know-how would fastrack the development of their first production car – the Gumpert Apollo Sport – and a 1:1 scale model and two prototype cars were built within a year, with commercial production beginning in the fourth quarter of 2005.  <\/p>\n

The production version of the Gumpert Apollo Sport would be unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, where it epitomized the company\u2019s philosophy and purpose – to create the fastest road-legal car in the world. Capable of 0-60 mph in just 3 seconds and a top speed of 224 mph, the Apollo Sport was certainly checking off all the right boxes in that regard.<\/p>\n

The New German Supercar On The Block <\/h3>\n

The Gumpert Apollo Sport is said to be named after one of the gods in Greek mythology, whose namesake takes the human form of an athletic olympian figure, not unlike this new German supercar. In fact, its deity-like appearance is hard to ignore through its almost alien combination of curves and edges. <\/p>\n

Its function would not be undermined by its physical stature, with an uncompromising attention to dexterity, strength and versatility. Completely road-legal, the Apollo Sport was setting a new bar for the everyday supercar – a synthesis of unadulterated performance and desirable street mannerisms. <\/p>\n

The chassis and aerodynamics on the Apollo Sport were state-of-the-art, and allowed the car to be enjoyed in all matter of circumstance. Its powerplant was capable of producing up to a remarkable 800 PS, but remained civil enough for a leisurely drive on public roads. <\/p>\n

The first fully road-legal cars debuted and were sold in Gumpert dealerships across Europe. Automotive journalists would be lavishing praise for Apollo\u2019s speed and cornering during tests. Matt Prior of Autocar magazine stated in his review of the Apollo Sport that it “recalibrates the meaning of pure speed and driving feel”. <\/p>\n

The Apollo Sport was never just going to be judged on sentiment alone, as it looked to set the record straight so to speak, when it came to its capabilities. The German supercar would end up lapping the Top Gear test track in 1:17.1 – which would hold the title of fastest time for 2 years, until the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport would best it. <\/p>\n

Before the N\u00fcrburgring Nordschleife had become the popular battleground it is today, in 2009 the Gumpert Apollo Sport set a lap time of 7:11:57 with race driver Florian Gruber, which made it the fastest production car at the Green Hell. That record has of course, been broken by newer makes and models since then, but the Apollo Sport is still an objectively quick automobile. That very car in fact, went up for sale<\/a> in 2018 with an asking price of around $400,000 USD. <\/p>\n

Engine & Performance<\/h2>\n

The Gumpert Apollo Sport was also available in 2 different engine trims, which were also based on its 4.2L twin-turbocharged Audi V8 engine. The Sport remains the most recognized and documented version of the car, with most publicized benchmarks set by the same. <\/p>\n