Apollo Automobil
| Company type | GmbH |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Roland Gumpert |
| Defunct | 2013 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy; rebranded and resumed operations under new ownership |
| Successor | Apollo Automobil GmbH (rebranded) |
| Headquarters | Denkendorf , Germany |
Area served | Europe, Middle East, United States |
Key people | Roland Gumpert (founder, until 2016) |
| Products | Sports cars: Gumpert Apollo, Apollo Arrow, Apollo Intensa Emozione, Apollo Project EVO, Gumpert Tornante (concept) |
| Parent | Ideal Team Venture (from 2016) |
Apollo Automobil (previously known as Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur) is a German manufacturer specializing in sports car production, headquartered in Denkendorf, Bavaria. Established in 2004 by Roland Gumpert, who formerly directed Audi Sport, the company targets markets across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. During Gumpert's tenure, Audi achieved 25 victories and secured four championships in the World Rally Championship.
History
The concept for a street-legal yet race-capable sports car emerged from Roland Gumpert in 2001. Upon his return from China to Germany, he partnered with Roland Meyer, founder of Motoren Technik Mayer, to create a prototype that Audi approved contingent upon its progression into a production vehicle.
Initially founded as "GMG Sportwagenmanufaktur Altenburg GmbH" in 2004, the company’s early designs were crafted by Marco Vanetta, resulting in a 1:4 scale model by 2002. Development efforts were bolstered through collaborations with the Technical University of Munich and Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences, focusing on construction techniques, simulation processes, and aerodynamic wind tunnel evaluations. Two prototypes were produced before series manufacturing of the Apollo began in October 2005, leading to multiple model variants.
On 27 July 2008, the Apollo Sport appeared on the UK’s Top Gear, where it recorded a Power Lap time of 1:17.1—surpassing notable rivals such as the Bugatti Veyron and Pagani Zonda. This record was later overtaken by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.
In 2011, Apollo introduced the Gumpert Tornante concept developed alongside Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, although this model never reached production.
Financial struggles led to bankruptcy proceedings in August 2013 after a principal investor withdrew support.
In January 2016, ownership transferred to Ideal Team Venture from Hong Kong, which rebranded the enterprise as Apollo Automobil GmbH. The company unveiled the Arrow at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, a sports car equipped with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine delivering , capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h within 2.9 seconds and achieving an estimated top speed of .
By November 2016, Apollo confirmed that founder Roland Gumpert had parted ways with all company operations and projects. Concurrently, they announced a new model initially codenamed ‘Titan’, later released as the Intensa Emozione (IE). This hypercar features a naturally aspirated 6.3 L V12 engine and an aggressive design inspired by insect anatomy. The IE’s development was carried out in collaboration with HWA AG—the engineering firm responsible for the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR.
Apollo further broadened its hypercar lineup with the introduction of the Apollo Project EVO at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in November 2021.
Products
- Gumpert Apollo
- Apollo Arrow
- Apollo Intensa Emozione
- Apollo Project EVO
- Gumpert Tornante (concept)
Development partners
Apollo has engaged with numerous strategic technical and commercial partners, including:
- Autotecnica Motori (engine engineering)
- Apollo Germany Limited (paintwork and repairs)
- ATS Group (design and manufacturing of wheels)
- BFFT (automotive electronic systems)
- Bosch Group (components such as ABS and TCS)
- BREMBO (braking systems)
- Eibach (sports suspension development)
- HS Genion (automotive engineering services)
- KBF Kabelbaumfertigung (production of Apollo’s extensive 4.2 km wiring harness)
- KW Automotive (sport suspension technology)
- Mero TSK (tube system fabrication)
- Pirelli (tyres for road and racing applications)
- TRW (active and passive safety systems)
- Technical University of Munich (virtual prototyping, vibration technology, driver-vehicle interaction studies)
- WIDOS (plastic welding for tubing and molded components)
- Contrust (risk management consulting)
- Evolution MotorSports (US-based development partner and distributor)
- GTE Engineering (development and manufacturing of kevlar clutch facings)
- HWA AG (final engineering for Intensa Emozione)
- HiPhi (HiPhi A)
Motorsport
The Apollo made its competitive debut in the Divinol Cup during April 2005, with Belgian driver Ruben Maes securing a third-place finish at the Hockenheimring. In 2008, Gumpert introduced a hybrid version of the Apollo to compete in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. This vehicle was piloted by Dirk Müller, the 2004 race winner, alongside former Formula One competitor Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Engineered in just three months, the hybrid Apollo integrates a 3.3-litre V8 bi-turbo engine paired with a 100 kW electric motor, delivering a combined output of . The car is equipped with regenerative braking technology that replenishes its battery during operation.
See also
References
External links
- ↑ Anderson, Brad (October 22, 2020). "De Tomaso Relocating To America To Build Its New P72 Sports Car". CARSCOOPS. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- Car manufacturers of Germany
- Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of Germany
- Sports car manufacturers
- Companies based in Thuringia
- Altenburg
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2004
- Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 2013
- Privately held companies of Germany
- German brands
- Car brands
- German companies established in 2004
- German companies disestablished in 2013