Tuesday 23rd October 2012

Gumpert saved?

Hardcore German supercar builder could yet be thrown a financial lifeline

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The future of insolvent German supercar maker Gumpert could be secured following talks with new investors, PistonHeads has learned.

The Apollo is no beauty but has its charms

We spoke to the head of sales and marketing, Bastian Schaefer, who had positive news for fans of the mighty Apollo. "It's looking good," he said. "It's not fixed yet, but there are a few candidates."

The company applied for insolvency back in August citing poor sales in China. However Schaefer has admitted for the first time that it was the sudden exit of a major Chinese investor that did it for the firm. Hence the search for fresh cash.

Right now the company is continuing to make its sole product, the twin-turbo 4.2 V8 powered Apollo. In its BASE form it makes 650hp, accelerates to 62mph in 3.1 seconds and costs a shade over 400,000 euros (£325,000) before taxes. If that capacity figure looks familiar it's because it you recognize it from Audi's line-up. Founder of the firm Roland Gumpert was an ex-employee of Audi's and one of the main men behind the development of the quattro drivetrain.

Investors want Tornante to broaden range

So far Gumpert has made more than 60 of the Apollo since its launch in 2005, but selling just one model, breathtakingly monstrous though it might be, could be part of the problem. According to Schaefer, the potential investors have raised the issue. "They are of the opinion that we should more have than more than one model," he told us.

That could resurrect 2011's concept, the Tornante. Still brutal, but a touch more svelte than the practically grid-ready Apollo. "This maybe a way we could be go, but it's not confirmed. Most crucial is to have the money," Schaefer said.

Gumpert very much deserves to live, not least because its name would make a great children's book character. Let's hope this story has a happy ending.

 

[carinaman]

According to Schaefer, the potential investors have raised the issue. "They are of the opinion that we should more have than more than one model," he told us.

?

[will261058]

Great news if it happens, I always liked the Apollo but the Tornante looks almost as monstrous and both are a change from the norm.

[Frimley111R]

That Apollo looks fantastic in matt black. Just needs Batman now!

[Ex Boy Racer]

that tornante looks quite a lot like an R8 to me. Shame the Audi facelift didn't look this mean!

[carinaman]

Ex Boy Racer said:

that tornante looks quite a lot like an R8 to me. Shame the Audi facelift didn't look this mean!

Looks like a Noble to me.

[cure]

carinaman said:

According to Schaefer, the potential investors have raised the issue. "They are of the opinion that we should more have than more than one model," he told us.

?

One could wonder how he got that job if that's what he said.

[carinaman]

cure said:

carinaman said:

According to Schaefer, the potential investors have raised the issue. "They are of the opinion that we should more have than more than one model," he told us.

?

One could wonder how he got that job if that's what he said.

Perhaps it got lost in translation?

[gtdc]

They came on a trackday we ran at Spa. Captive audience of a lot of potential clients. Behaved so horribly we had to remove them. Very quick way to put a lot of people off.

Was less than impressed with the attitude.

[130R]

400,000 euros plus taxes is a lot of money to spend on an ugly car nobody has heard of.

[LotusOmega375D]

I don't think losing Gumpert would be a great blow to the motoring world. If I wanted something crazy from those zany Germans I'd seek out an Isdera Imperator.

There are a lot of better machines out there to spend your undeclared income on.

[carinaman]

gtdc said:

They came on a trackday we ran at Spa. Captive audience of a lot of potential clients. Behaved so horribly we had to remove them. Very quick way to put a lot of people off.

Was less than impressed with the attitude.

It was their on track behaviour that left a lot to be desired?

[Mastodon2]

The Apollo was "no beauty" according to some, this article included, but I think it looks incredible.

[GTRene]

I like that Batman style Apollo as showed in the opening post.

also the Tornate which is for a bit broader audience.







cool>>





a bit Mangusta style rear hatch?



more>>
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/03/gumpert-torna...

[soad]

carinaman said:

Ex Boy Racer said:

that tornante looks quite a lot like an R8 to me. Shame the Audi facelift didn't look this mean!

Looks like a Noble to me.

Ditto.

[StottyZr]

carinaman said:

gtdc said:

They came on a trackday we ran at Spa. Captive audience of a lot of potential clients. Behaved so horribly we had to remove them. Very quick way to put a lot of people off.

Was less than impressed with the attitude.

It was their on track behaviour that left a lot to be desired?

Clarification please?

[JonathanLegard]

StottyZr said:

carinaman said:

gtdc said:

They came on a trackday we ran at Spa. Captive audience of a lot of potential clients. Behaved so horribly we had to remove them. Very quick way to put a lot of people off.

Was less than impressed with the attitude.

It was their on track behaviour that left a lot to be desired?

Clarification please?

Sounds identical to Caparo's antics on a trackday at the Ring a couple of years ago.

[gtdc]

carinaman said:

gtdc said:

They came on a trackday we ran at Spa. Captive audience of a lot of potential clients. Behaved so horribly we had to remove them. Very quick way to put a lot of people off.

Was less than impressed with the attitude.

It was their on track behaviour that left a lot to be desired?

Indeed it was. Beastly.

[gtdc]

StottyZr said:

carinaman said:

gtdc said:

They came on a trackday we ran at Spa. Captive audience of a lot of potential clients. Behaved so horribly we had to remove them. Very quick way to put a lot of people off.

Was less than impressed with the attitude.

It was their on track behaviour that left a lot to be desired?

Clarification please?

Simple rules to follow. Most others manage (with a little prompting sometimes)

These chaps thought it was above them, that the rules were for the kindergarden and, and, and. You could write the script.

Very dull.

[JVaughan]

is it me or does the rear view of that Touring look like a Crossfire ?

[M@1975]

Love the Gumpert Apollo, in my "if I win the lottery" garage.