Audi Powered Track Car - Gumpert Apollo
06-22-05, 07:07 AM
#2
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Gumpert Apollo – The McLaren F1 of the Audi Lexicon
By by: George Achorn, photos by: Gumpert and MTM
Apr 24, 2005, 22:53
Ever hear of a car manufacturer called Gumpert? Neither had we, though the man with the name is no new face in Ingolstadt. Roland Gumpert was an instrumental employee of Audi’s on the racing side of things, managing the Motorsport Department during the ‘70s and ‘80s where he won 4 Rally World Championship titles. Another name not new to Audiphiles is Gumpert partner and Audi tuning meister and owner of MTM, Roland Mayer. With credentials and partners like that, it’s no surprise an automobile coming from a car company that bears the Gumpert name would be inspired by motorsport and use a healthy dose of Audi componentry.
Officially launched as Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH, the goal of the company is to build a range of sports cars using Audi mechanical components. Based in Altenburg, Germany, the Gumpert company is not far from Audi in Ingolstadt and virtually in the neighborhood of Audi’s spiritual home of Zwickau where Auto Union called home prior to World War II.
Gumpert’s shield-shaped badge is imprinted with the sign of the griffin – half lion and half eagle. In Gumpert’s mind, that sign unites both the courage of the lion with the speed and precision of the eagle. Those characteristics are fully intended in their planned sports car offerings.
The original vision of their cars was for outstanding road performance and a combination of style and functionality. They’ve been designed for purists with the full intent to use the cars on the road, though with the potential for them to succeed on the track. Finally, the car needed to be sold at a price unmatched by other cars in its proposed class – the last factor more attainable through Gumpert’s planned production in a former East German location where the cost of facilities and labor are both quite competitive.
For their first product, Gumpert chose the name “Apollo” – god of the sun and determiner of the victor in battle according to Greek mythos. The Apollo automobile has been developed based on a mid-engined prototype project that Mayer had been working on at MTM. With Gumpert’s engineering participation, the project has taken greater steps toward production.
Developed in partnership with the University of Munich and the engineering firm Nitec, the chassis of the car is made of tubular steel sub frames strengthened with chrome molybdenum alloy. This configuration is low in weight and also offers considerable protection for the car’s occupants given the high levels of performance the car is capable of.
Gumpert offers a choice of bodywork composition. GRP reinforced fiberglass resin isn’t exactly weighty, but owners seeking either lighter weight or sheer bragging rights can opt for carbon fiber bodywork as well.
Initial versions of the Apollo that hit the market this September will be powered by a twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8 that also saw use in Audi’s RS6. This engine has been expertly breathed on by MTM, and is quite similar to the tuned engine the German-based Audi tuner ran in their modded Audi RS6 Plus. Power has been boosted from 450-hp in the RS6 to 650-hp at 6800 rpm and torque to 597 lb ft. at 5000 rpm. That result is a whopping 156-hp per liter.
Delivering the power to the 13-inch wide rear wheels is a 6-speed sequential gearbox with twin clutch configuration similar to Audi’s own DSG found in TT and A3 models. Gear selection in early prototype cars is controlled via a more traditional gear lever, though paddles will be placed behind the steering wheel in an F1 style setup when the car goes into production.
The Apollo is fitted with ATS aluminum wheels (19x9.5 in. at front and 19x13 in. at rear) with center lock. Rolling rubber at the front are 255/35-19 Pirellis and even wider 345/35-19 Pirellis at the rear.
Given the car’s developers, it’s no surprise that the suspension design seems highly inspired by a competition motorsport program with double wishbone axles at every corner and pushrod operated centrally mounted spring and shock absorbers sourced from KW for the highest performance and minimized space utilization.
Weight is only 2,161 lbs., making for pretty heady performance claims by the justifiably bawdy manufacturer. Gumpert claims 0-62 mph in a whiplash inducing 3.0 seconds, hitting 124 mph in 8.9 seconds. Claimed top speed is an equally brow-raising 224 mph. Looking at these numbers, we hope the driver has dry-sump bloodflow.
To deal with operating at these nosebleed number speeds, the design of the car is purely functional. Wings have been kept to a minimum, though 2205-lbs. of downforce is claimed at 224 mph – the result of smart exterior aerodynamic design and highly effective under-car aerodynamics that implement a smooth undertray and venturi tunnels to channel air as desired. For reference sake, those sorts of downforce numbers are roughly akin to a DTM racecar.
Bringing that needle on the speedometer back into reality are no less than 8-piston calipers with 15-inch rotors at all four corners, combined with a dual circuit ABS system.
Walk up to the car and you’ll note the relatively small size. The car measures 167.3 inches in length, 76.0 inches wide and 43.2 inches tall with a 106.8 inch wheelbase. It’s almost the size of a Lamborghini Gallardo, though the baby bull is slightly larger.
Design can best be described as “space age”. It’s not exactly flowing like the almost classic designs coming out of manufacturers like Lamborghini, Ferrari and Aston Martin lately. The look may not be as beautiful, but more importantly, given the context of the car’s performance, the design seems more inspired by a wind tunnel than a focus group.
The Apollo’s drag coefficient is 0.39, not as low as some more aerodynamic production cars, largely due to the aforementioned considerable downforce designers were seeking. The small blade wing at the rear, spanning the car’s raised rear haunches provides as much as 1,300 lbs. of downforce on the rear wheels alone. Combined with the aerodynamic concoction underneath the car, Gumpert has engineered a car that is expected to be very stable at extremely high speeds.
Crawl within the car and you’re greeted by two seats that are moulded into the inner tub. Adjustablity of the driver’s position is done purely by a movable pedal box and steering column, just like a racecar. The seats themselves will be shaped to each individual customer, making the car tailored to the driver, though perhaps making resale a bit trickier.
If it sounds spartan, that’s not the whole story. Amenities such as air-conditioning and satellite navigation system are available for owners who seek a little bit more luxury.
If the car sounds too good to be true, the cost of acquiring one will only make it moreso. Gumpert is focused on keeping the car as competitively priced as possible for launch, aiming for a range of about $140,000 to $220,000.
Even better, Gumpert plans two more engine offerings for the Apollo as early as next year. Slotting in below the twin turbocharged 4.2 will be a mid-level offering that utilizes a supercharger system mated to the 4.2-liter V8, making 460-hp, 440 lb ft. of torque. This configuration should have a 0-60mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed over 185 mph. If you prefer a more affordable and milder (for Gumpert) version you might opt for a normally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 that develops 460-hp and 354 lb ft. or torque. This “entry-level” version is expected to hit 60 in a mere 4.1 seconds and will have a top speed of "only" 180 mph.
With his close ties to Audi, Roland Gumpert claims to have an official supply contract with Audi for the components he’ll be using to build the car and has even promised Audi chief executive Martin Winterkorn the first drive in the finished production car. In UK car weekly Autocar Magazine Gumpert stated, “We can use Audi’s know-how to build our cars so long as we don’t build a direct rival to their range.” Smart thinking.
With all these plans in place, GMG hopes to sell 30 cars before the end of the year, with another 150 cars a year planned for 2006 – their first full year of production. Whether or not the Gumpert will make it to North American shores remains to be seen, but sales plans for the UK and continental Europe are already in place. Further plans of a motorsport campaign have also been hinted at, with a focus towards endurance. Could this mean Le Mans or the fabled Nurburghring? We shall see.
Source : HERE
Apr 24, 2005, 22:53
Ever hear of a car manufacturer called Gumpert? Neither had we, though the man with the name is no new face in Ingolstadt. Roland Gumpert was an instrumental employee of Audi’s on the racing side of things, managing the Motorsport Department during the ‘70s and ‘80s where he won 4 Rally World Championship titles. Another name not new to Audiphiles is Gumpert partner and Audi tuning meister and owner of MTM, Roland Mayer. With credentials and partners like that, it’s no surprise an automobile coming from a car company that bears the Gumpert name would be inspired by motorsport and use a healthy dose of Audi componentry.
Officially launched as Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH, the goal of the company is to build a range of sports cars using Audi mechanical components. Based in Altenburg, Germany, the Gumpert company is not far from Audi in Ingolstadt and virtually in the neighborhood of Audi’s spiritual home of Zwickau where Auto Union called home prior to World War II.
Gumpert’s shield-shaped badge is imprinted with the sign of the griffin – half lion and half eagle. In Gumpert’s mind, that sign unites both the courage of the lion with the speed and precision of the eagle. Those characteristics are fully intended in their planned sports car offerings.
The original vision of their cars was for outstanding road performance and a combination of style and functionality. They’ve been designed for purists with the full intent to use the cars on the road, though with the potential for them to succeed on the track. Finally, the car needed to be sold at a price unmatched by other cars in its proposed class – the last factor more attainable through Gumpert’s planned production in a former East German location where the cost of facilities and labor are both quite competitive.
For their first product, Gumpert chose the name “Apollo” – god of the sun and determiner of the victor in battle according to Greek mythos. The Apollo automobile has been developed based on a mid-engined prototype project that Mayer had been working on at MTM. With Gumpert’s engineering participation, the project has taken greater steps toward production.
Developed in partnership with the University of Munich and the engineering firm Nitec, the chassis of the car is made of tubular steel sub frames strengthened with chrome molybdenum alloy. This configuration is low in weight and also offers considerable protection for the car’s occupants given the high levels of performance the car is capable of.
Gumpert offers a choice of bodywork composition. GRP reinforced fiberglass resin isn’t exactly weighty, but owners seeking either lighter weight or sheer bragging rights can opt for carbon fiber bodywork as well.
Initial versions of the Apollo that hit the market this September will be powered by a twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8 that also saw use in Audi’s RS6. This engine has been expertly breathed on by MTM, and is quite similar to the tuned engine the German-based Audi tuner ran in their modded Audi RS6 Plus. Power has been boosted from 450-hp in the RS6 to 650-hp at 6800 rpm and torque to 597 lb ft. at 5000 rpm. That result is a whopping 156-hp per liter.
Delivering the power to the 13-inch wide rear wheels is a 6-speed sequential gearbox with twin clutch configuration similar to Audi’s own DSG found in TT and A3 models. Gear selection in early prototype cars is controlled via a more traditional gear lever, though paddles will be placed behind the steering wheel in an F1 style setup when the car goes into production.
The Apollo is fitted with ATS aluminum wheels (19x9.5 in. at front and 19x13 in. at rear) with center lock. Rolling rubber at the front are 255/35-19 Pirellis and even wider 345/35-19 Pirellis at the rear.
Given the car’s developers, it’s no surprise that the suspension design seems highly inspired by a competition motorsport program with double wishbone axles at every corner and pushrod operated centrally mounted spring and shock absorbers sourced from KW for the highest performance and minimized space utilization.
Weight is only 2,161 lbs., making for pretty heady performance claims by the justifiably bawdy manufacturer. Gumpert claims 0-62 mph in a whiplash inducing 3.0 seconds, hitting 124 mph in 8.9 seconds. Claimed top speed is an equally brow-raising 224 mph. Looking at these numbers, we hope the driver has dry-sump bloodflow.
To deal with operating at these nosebleed number speeds, the design of the car is purely functional. Wings have been kept to a minimum, though 2205-lbs. of downforce is claimed at 224 mph – the result of smart exterior aerodynamic design and highly effective under-car aerodynamics that implement a smooth undertray and venturi tunnels to channel air as desired. For reference sake, those sorts of downforce numbers are roughly akin to a DTM racecar.
Bringing that needle on the speedometer back into reality are no less than 8-piston calipers with 15-inch rotors at all four corners, combined with a dual circuit ABS system.
Walk up to the car and you’ll note the relatively small size. The car measures 167.3 inches in length, 76.0 inches wide and 43.2 inches tall with a 106.8 inch wheelbase. It’s almost the size of a Lamborghini Gallardo, though the baby bull is slightly larger.
Design can best be described as “space age”. It’s not exactly flowing like the almost classic designs coming out of manufacturers like Lamborghini, Ferrari and Aston Martin lately. The look may not be as beautiful, but more importantly, given the context of the car’s performance, the design seems more inspired by a wind tunnel than a focus group.
The Apollo’s drag coefficient is 0.39, not as low as some more aerodynamic production cars, largely due to the aforementioned considerable downforce designers were seeking. The small blade wing at the rear, spanning the car’s raised rear haunches provides as much as 1,300 lbs. of downforce on the rear wheels alone. Combined with the aerodynamic concoction underneath the car, Gumpert has engineered a car that is expected to be very stable at extremely high speeds.
Crawl within the car and you’re greeted by two seats that are moulded into the inner tub. Adjustablity of the driver’s position is done purely by a movable pedal box and steering column, just like a racecar. The seats themselves will be shaped to each individual customer, making the car tailored to the driver, though perhaps making resale a bit trickier.
If it sounds spartan, that’s not the whole story. Amenities such as air-conditioning and satellite navigation system are available for owners who seek a little bit more luxury.
If the car sounds too good to be true, the cost of acquiring one will only make it moreso. Gumpert is focused on keeping the car as competitively priced as possible for launch, aiming for a range of about $140,000 to $220,000.
Even better, Gumpert plans two more engine offerings for the Apollo as early as next year. Slotting in below the twin turbocharged 4.2 will be a mid-level offering that utilizes a supercharger system mated to the 4.2-liter V8, making 460-hp, 440 lb ft. of torque. This configuration should have a 0-60mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed over 185 mph. If you prefer a more affordable and milder (for Gumpert) version you might opt for a normally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 that develops 460-hp and 354 lb ft. or torque. This “entry-level” version is expected to hit 60 in a mere 4.1 seconds and will have a top speed of "only" 180 mph.
With his close ties to Audi, Roland Gumpert claims to have an official supply contract with Audi for the components he’ll be using to build the car and has even promised Audi chief executive Martin Winterkorn the first drive in the finished production car. In UK car weekly Autocar Magazine Gumpert stated, “We can use Audi’s know-how to build our cars so long as we don’t build a direct rival to their range.” Smart thinking.
With all these plans in place, GMG hopes to sell 30 cars before the end of the year, with another 150 cars a year planned for 2006 – their first full year of production. Whether or not the Gumpert will make it to North American shores remains to be seen, but sales plans for the UK and continental Europe are already in place. Further plans of a motorsport campaign have also been hinted at, with a focus towards endurance. Could this mean Le Mans or the fabled Nurburghring? We shall see.
Source : HERE
06-22-05, 09:52 AM
#7
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Richie
Either the red or the blue one has gone up in flames last week at a track event in Germany.
)
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03-15-06, 08:06 AM
#13
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Thread Starter
Gumpert Apollo
Text & Photos courtesy Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH
03-15-2006
In the beginning there was a vision
The challenge was to develop 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 success on the race circuit. Furthermore at a price that cannot be matched by any other car in this exclusive class. This vision of a unique sports car led to the birth of the Apollo. Its highly functional design offers an extraordinary driving experience. The V8 turbo charged engine delivers power and torque in abundance and provides the Apollo with breath-taking acceleration. The rigid chassis and the efficient aerodynamics of the futuristic 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 subframes and a carbon monocoque provide double protection for the passengers. The Apollo safely offers fun on the road and competitiveness on the race track.
An overview of the Apollo*
The Apollo is a two-seater sports car with a mid-engine arrangement. It is built up upon a chrome molybdenum chassis with an integrated carbon monocoque safety cell. The transmission is a sequential sixspeed gearbox with twin clutch configuration (diameter 2 x 200 mm). Long double wishbones with a fully adjustable suspension operated by pushrods (front/rear) and a wind tunnel optimized aerodynamical design with a full length underbody incorporating massive diffusors (front/rear) provide excellent driving dynamics. A dual circuit ABS brake system with 6-piston callipers all around (brake disk diameter 380 mm) provides enormous braking performance.
The Driving Force
The driving force behind German Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur (Manufacturer of Sports Cars) is the founder and managing director Roland Gumpert. Many will know him from his years at AUDI where he led the development of the first 4- wheel drive car ‘Iltis’ - forefather for the AUDI Quattros.
Among other responsibilities, Roland was in charge of the AUDI Sports Department and achieved 25 victories at World Championship Rallies and won 4 World Rally Championship titles with Hannu Mikkola (1983) and Stig
Blomqvist (1984) and the constructors championship in 1982 and ‘83. Naturally, success at major motor sport championships is an objective for the Apollo’s near future. Until today, he keeps close business relationships with AUDI.
Performance Figures
Maximum Speed: 224 mph/360 km/h (depending on aerodynamical package)
Acceleration: 0-62 mph/0-100 km/h in 3.0 sec; 0-124 mph/0-200 km/h in 8.9 sec
Engine
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: 254 cubic inch/4163 cm3
Engine performance: 641BHP/478 kW at 6000 rpm
Maximum torque: 597.4 lbf ft/850 Nm at 4500 rpm
Output per litre: 153.8 BHP/Litre - 114.8 kW/Litre
Maximum Rev: 7500 rpm
General Information
Transmission: six-speed sequential manual, limited slip differential, rear wheel drive
Suspension: double wishbones, fully adjustable inboard spring/damper units, anti-roll bar
Wheels and tires: aluminium wheels with centre lock
front: 255/35 ZR19
rear: 345/35 ZR19
Unloaded weight: under 2525 lb/1100 kg (dry weight)
Length: 175.6 inch/4460 mm
Width: 78.6 inch/1998 mm
Height: 43.5 inch/1105 mm
Wheel base: 106.3 inch/2700 mm
Track: front 65.7 inch/1670 mm
rear 62.9 inch/1598 mm
*Technical data of production car may slightly change. The Seats are integral part of carbon fibre monocoque. They are talormade for each driver and the steering wheel as well as the pedal box are adjustable - every driver finds the perfect position.
source : worldcarfans
10-03-07, 08:04 AM
#14
Loves Snickerdoodles!
Here's a nice vid of the Gumpert Apollo on the track with Tiff Needell behind the wheel 
http://jalopnik.com/cars/clips/the-w...o-s-306366.php
http://jalopnik.com/cars/clips/the-w...o-s-306366.php
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