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From YourSITE.com Industry News The Overview.
Success in motor sport is a defined goal for the Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur. Therefore, we are planning to receive the homologation for our cars in different race series. In March, the Apollo received the homologation for the French-GT-series (FFSA) and finished third place in its race debut at Hockenheimring entering the DIVINOL-Cup and competing against 40 other cars. Gumpert offers to build the Apollo as a race car according to FIA GT and ACO regulations. The production of the Apollo started in October 2005. The currently available version of the Apollo is an uncompromising, road-authorized supercar. The base price for the car with its 4,2 Liter V8 engine with bi-turbo and 650 BHP is 198.000 EUR excl. VAT.
The Story behind. The beginning – from the idea to the first model About three years ago there was a vision of a new super sports car: A car, which combined the highest dynamics with unmatched driving capabilities. It was supposed to be a street-legal car and ready for racing it on the track as well. Last but not least, Mr. Gumpert wanted it to offer the best value for money you could get among the super sports cars. Starting from there, the technical parameters to be met were defined and the first designs of the car were drawn by Marco Vanetta. At the end of this process the first 1:4 scale model of the car was produced in 2002 – Apollo was born. From the model to pre-production To develop a model into a real car is a long way to go and a lot of experience and even more know-how are needed to be successful in the end. So about two years ago Roland Gumpert took over the project management. Coming from AUDI, Roland Gumpert has a long and impressive track record in car development and motor sport. The Quattros from Ingolstadt won 25 races in the World Rallye Championship and 4 World Rallye Championship Titles with him leading the AUDI Sport department. The GMG Sportwagenmanufaktur Altenburg GmbH was founded and Gumpert pressed ahead with the development of the Apollo. With Uwe Bleck, former manager of the department Vehicle Dynamics, Simulation, Wheels and Tires at AUDI, another acknowledged specialist with a sound know-how in automotive development joined the Sportwagenmanufaktur. In close cooperation with the Technical University in Munich and the University of Applied Sciences in Ingolstadt constructional work, computer simulations, and finally wind tunnel tests were done. All research and development activities formed the basis for a first 1:1 scale model and finally the two pre-production Apollos.
From pre-production to serial production The model of Apollo created a very large interest in the public and with potential customers. To create an appropriate surrounding for the Apollo, GMG became the Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH in January 2005 with Roland Gumpert as managing director. The griffin is the chosen symbol for the new brand: This mythological creature with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle is a symbol for strength and velocity. Last but not least it is perceived as the symbol for ruling the earth and the sky. Under his sign the Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur starts off to compete with the established competitors on the market and on the race track.
The Apollo. In the beginning there was the vision of a super sports car with outstanding road performance, combining style and functionality. A purist vehicle offering a unique driving experience on the road and the potential of succeeding on the race circuit. Furthermore a price that cannot be matched by any other car in this exclusive class. This vision of a unique sports car was the hour of birth for the Apollo. Its design and technology are shaped by unrestrained strength and dynamics. The V8 turbo charged engine delivers strength and torque in abundance and provides the Apollo with breath-taking acceleration. The stiff chassis and the extraordinary aerodynamics of the beautiful car body provide for ultra precise and predictable handling even at maximum speed. As top performance requires top security, the road-authorized Apollo already fulfils international motor sports norms. Tubular steel sub-frames and carbon monocoque provide double protection for the passengers. The Apollo safely offers both fun on the road and competition in motor sports. Technical data. Body: Two seated sports car with mid-engine arrangement monocoque carbon safety cell, chrome molybdenum framework Transmission: Fully synchronized sequential six-speed gearbox with manually operated twin-disc clutch (diameter 2 x 200mm), limited slip differential, rear wheel drive Chassis: Double wishbone axle with fully adjustable spring and absorber units operated by pushrods, stabilizers Brakes: dual circuit ABS brake system with 6-piston callipers at front and rear axles (brake disc diameter 380mm) Wheels and Tires: Aluminium wheels with centre lock, 255/35 ZR19 front, 345/35 ZR19 rear Unloaded Weight: Under 1,100 kg / 2,525 lb (dry weight) Measurements: Length: 4,460 mm / 175.6 inch, Width: 1,998 mm / 78.6 inch, Height: 1,105 mm / 43.5 inch (without air intake), Wheel base: 2,700 mm / 106.3 inch, Track gauge: 1,670 mm / 65.7 inch front, 1598 mm / 62.9 inch rear Fuel tank capacity: 120 litres / 32 gallons (US) The engine. Description: 4,2L Bi-turbo V8-Engine with 90? cylinder angle, 5 valves per cylinder, 4 overhead camshafts, hydraulic valve clearance compensation, double-flow exhaust system with three-way catalytic converter Cubic capacity: 4,163 cm3 / 254 cubic inch Engine performance: 650 HP at 6000 rpm Maximum torque: 850 Nm / 626.9 lb ft at 4500 rpm Output per Litre: 114.8 KW/LITRE (156 HP/LITRE) Maximum rev: 7,400 rpm Maximum Speed: 224 mph / 360 km/h (depending on aerodynamical configuration) Acceleration Figures: 0-62 mph / 0-100 km/h in 3.0 seconds, 0-124mph / 0-200 km/h in 8.9 seconds
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