Gumpert Apollo

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Information about Gumpert Apollo

The Gumpert Apollo is a supercar produced by German automaker Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH in Altenburg.

History

In 2001 (11 years ago) Roland Gumpert proposed a new generation sports car. One of the first concerns of this car was that it be a street-legal car, ready for the race track. Gumpert returned to Germany at the end of 2001 (11 years ago), after more than three years in China. There he was the head of sales and marketing, responsible for the development of the dealer network of the Audi-VW joint enterprise. Just after he returned to Germany, Roland Mayer asked him if he would assist him in building a prototype sports car. Audi approved Gumpert's involvement in this project, on the condition that, if they did eventually develop a new sports car, it would not be a prototype, but a series product.

The company, located in Altenburg, Germany, was founded in 2004 (8 years ago) under the name GMG Sportwagenmanufaktur Altenburg GmbH. The technical guidelines were defined and the first designs of the car were drawn by Marco Vanetta. Upon Vanetta's completion of this process, the first 1:4 scale model of Gumpert's car was produced in 2002 (10 years ago).

Gumpert continued with the development of the Apollo, along with the Technical University of Munich and the Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences. They have assisted with the constructional work, computer simulations, and wind tunnel tests. This research and development helped forming the blueprint for the first 1:1 scale model. Finally, two prototype Apollos were constructed. The production of the Apollo started in Oct. 2005 (7 years ago).

Racing history

During Apr. 2005 (7 years ago) the Apollo made its racing debut in the Divinol Cup. This Apollo was driven by the Belgian race driver Ruben Maes. Maes finished third on the Hockenheimring race track. Three years later Gumpert announced that they would enter a hybrid version of the Apollo in the 2008 (4 years ago) 24 Hours Nürburgring, driven by 2004 (8 years ago) winner Dirk Müller and ex-Formula One racer Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Three months passed between the first discussions and the finished hybrid Apollo. The Apollo was driven in the 24 Hours Nürburgring in May 2008 (4 years ago). The hybrid Apollo can deliver up to 382 kW (519 PS; 512 hp), powered with a 3.3 litre V8 bi-turbo engine coupled with a 100 kW (136 PS; 134 hp) electric motor. The car has the ability to recharge the battery under braking.

On Jul. 27, 2008 (4 years ago) an Apollo Sport was featured on the UK show Top Gear. Richard Hammond and The Stig drove the Apollo Sport. With a lap time of 1:17.1, the Apollo Sport was the fastest on the 'Power Lap Board'..

Source: en.wikipedia.org

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