RE: Geneva 2012: Gumpert Apollo Enraged and R
Thursday 8th March 2012
Gumpert is not a company famed for eye-catching beauty or poetic, evocative names. This is fortunate, because its latest takes on its mad supercar, the Apollo R and hilariously named Apollo Enraged (Grrr!), are never going to win the car-based version of Miss World.
Geneva 2012: Gumpert Apollo Enraged and R
Mad names for a pair of utterly bonkers motor cars
What Gumpert is famous for, however, is making cars that go like a rabid cat, and handle like a rabid cat with glue on its paws. And these two, on display at the Geneva motor show, do not disappoint.
The Enraged whips up the 4.2-litre twin-turbo V8 to 780hp and 662lb ft, drives the rear wheels via a 7-speed paddle-shift gearbox and helps stop proceedings with 396mm carbon-ceramic discs with six-piston calipers all round.
Helping it to go round corners are carbon fibre aero components springing from every available surface and fully adjustable double wishbone suspension all round.
All of which allows the Apollo Enraged (still can't write that without sniggering) to hit 62mph from rest in 2.9 seconds, 125mph in 8.7 seconds and top out at 205mph. Gumpert is only making three of these, and if you want one you'll have to pay 660,660 euros (£550K) plus VAT for the privilege.
If that's not extreme enough for you, there's also the Apollo R, which is similar, but without a number plate. Power is also increased to 860hp, torque to 722lb ft, and the price to 'just' 638,295 euros plus VAT. Bargain.
Discussion
It looked like a kitcar when it was first introduced. It still looks like a kitcar with the latest 'facelift'. I don't understand why most of so called low volume supercar manufactures spend millions on engineering but not a penny on exterior and interior design. I mean these cars are not designed by automotive designer. They are designed by normal industrial designer with help of engineers.
loveice said:
It looked like a kitcar when it was first introduced. It still looks like a kitcar with the latest 'facelift'. I don't understand why most of so called low volume supercar manufactures spend millions on engineering but not a penny on exterior and interior design. I mean these cars are not designed by automotive designer. They are designed by normal industrial designer with help of engineers.
This issue really grinds my gears as wellfatbutt said:
I love it. I'd go one further and call it the Gumpert B A S T A R D, in CAPS. With spaces to avoid the swearing filter
Reminds me of a story my Dad told me. Whilst swanning around San Francisco (pretending to work) in the 80's he spied an XJS convertible with the number plate "B O L L O X". The English gent who was driving it was very pleased to find someone who knew what it meant!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff