Apollo Automobil, once known as Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur, is a name deeply ingrained in the annals of German automotive engineering. Headquartered in Denkendorf, the company was founded by Roland Gumpert in 2004, a man with an impressive history as the director of Audi Sport. Under his management, Audi secured 25 World Rally Championship rallies and four World Rally Championship titles, a testament to his prowess in the automotive world.
The inception of Apollo Automobil was rooted in a groundbreaking idea. In 2001, Gumpert envisioned a new breed of sports car—race-ready but street-legal. It was a daring concept that was propelled into reality when Roland Meyer, founder of Motoren Technik Mayer and a former colleague of Gumpert at Audi, enlisted his assistance in creating a prototype. Audi gave its blessing for Gumpert's participation, provided the sports car would be a series product and not merely a one-off prototype.
Fast-forward to 2004, the company was formally founded as "GMG Sportwagenmanufaktur Altenburg GmbH." Marco Vanetta, an esteemed designer, was entrusted with creating the initial designs for what would eventually be known as the Apollo. Universities such as the Technical University of Munich and the Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences were also involved in developing the car, contributing through computer simulations and wind tunnel tests. The result? By October 2005, the first Apollo car was produced, ushering in an era of multiple variants and continued advancements.
One remarkable achievement that thrust Apollo into the limelight was its appearance on the UK automotive show, Top Gear, in 2008. With a lap time of 1:17.1, the Apollo Sport dethroned the Ascari A10, becoming the new leader on the Power Lap Board. It even outpaced icons like the Bugatti Veyron and the Pagani Zonda on the Top Gear test track.
However, it was not all smooth sailing for the company. In 2013, Apollo filed for bankruptcy and went into liquidation. A ray of hope emerged in 2016 when it was acquired by Hong Kong consortium Ideal Team Venture. Renamed Apollo Automobil GmbH, the company was revitalized, introducing jaw-dropping models like the Arrow, boasting a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine with a staggering 986 hp, and the Intensa Emozione, a collaboration with HWA AG featuring a 6.3 L naturally-aspirated V12 engine.
Today, Apollo Automobil stands as a symbol of German engineering and innovation, creating cars that are not only feats of mechanical brilliance but also works of art. With an eye towards the future, the company continues to push the envelope in automotive technology, holding its own in a competitive industry. The Intensa Emozione, with its radical insect-inspired design, and the Apollo Project EVO presented at the China International Import Expo in 2021, only prove that Apollo Automobil is a brand consistently evolving, perpetually driving toward the extraordinary.
