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Apollo Automobil has issued the following press release:
Awe inspiring Apollo Arrow unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show – heralding a “New Dawn” for legendary hypercar maker Apollo Automobil GmbH
Geneva, Switzerland, 1 March 2016
Apollo Automobil GmbH is delighted to premier the Arrow, a new hypercar that it hopes will surpass the records set by its predecessor, the Gumpert Apollo. With the launch, the rebranded automaker is celebrating a new chapter in its corporate history.
A New Dawn
Following restructuring in 2015, Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH was rebranded as Apollo Automobil GmbH. The company’s new owner, Ideal Team Ventures Limited, is a holding company with investments in a range of industries including the automotive sector, financial services, food and beverage, and leasing and chartering.
“I have always been a big fan of the Gumpert Apollo. It was, in my opinion, a thoroughbred hypercar that stood out among its competitors,” says Norman Choi, owner of Ideal Team Ventures Limited. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to revive, reinvent and rebuild this legendary, record-breaking vehicle. I am very happy with the upgrades we made to the Apollo N and extremely proud of the Arrow which is being debuted today, both technically and aesthetically.”
Roland Gumpert remains CEO and Chief Engineer at Apollo, leading a team of engineers and technical experts in the Arrow’s development. “The Arrow is truly magnificent – it is the perfect combination of German engineering and automotive art,” comments Mr Gumpert. “Although it’s still a prototype, we are confident that the Arrow will achieve the unimaginable.”
“Our team in Germany and UK have managed to transform an extremely powerful engine to a new hyper-car, while taking all vehicle dynamics and aerodynamic parameters into consideration,” says Bailey Xu, Managing Director, “I was instantly electrified by the idea of applying the characteristics of the F22 Raptor to the Apollo Arrow, with the inspiration of marine biology, the Arrow could deliver up to 1000 HP and 1000 Nm of torque, and thus taking Apollo to a new level.”
With a new investor, a new design philosophy and new engineering insights, Apollo has started a new chapter in its history. The company has a brand new factory and technology centre in Denkendorf, Germany. It is also launching an impressive network of showrooms and dealerships to help it introduce the Apollo Arrow to the world.
With a new corporate vision, Apollo is demonstrating its renewed commitment to becoming one of the best hypercar manufacturers on the planet.
Apollo Arrow
_Design philosophy
Apollo’s new design philosophy, which is inspired by the ruthlessness of the ocean, is important not only to the Arrow – but also for setting the tone as the company moves forward. People today have a highly sensitized response to design and instinctively begin to link together cues originating from a single philosophy. For our designers, the design that heralded the rebirth of Apollo is crucial – because it will have a key influence on the style of the cars that follow.
Perhaps most importantly, the fluidity of the design – like a shark – gives the Arrow the appearance of constant motion, even when it stands still.
In this respect, human intervention is essential. When confronted with a design brief featuring a high aerodynamic threshold, our own instinct is to turn to Mother Nature. The cues that can be borrowed from animals or plants are almost always efficient in terms of design. When considering the optimal conditions for moving gracefully through water, sharks happen to exhibit a truly wondrous aesthetic and mechanical efficiency – which is why the ocean’s primary predator has had such an influence on the Arrow’s design.
In addition to all its unique features, the singular, breathtaking speed of the Apollo Arrow elevates this exclusive hypercar to the true embodiment of the ocean.
_Dynamics in figures
The new Apollo Arrow boasts a remarkable torque of 1,000 Nm at 3,650 rpm thanks to the 3.993-litre capacity of its hot V8 engine. An output of 1,000 HP is achieved at 6,750 rpm. These impressive figures allow the car to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from standing in less than 2.9 seconds. The Arrow has a top speed of 360 km/h (220 mph).
_Drive system
The improved horsepower is the result of using two larger turbochargers on the top instead of the bottom, with new intercoolers and the new exhaust system. The F22 Raptor inspired its design. Furthermore, Apollo has extensively reinforced all drivetrain components to ensure they can safely transfer the immense force that the Arrow is capable of. Thanks to the larger turbochargers and general decrease in back pressure, fuel consumption has also been reduced slightly – even with the increased power output.
_Chassis
In order to put this unrivalled power on the road safely and expertly, the engineers have reconfigured the Arrow’s chassis. Thanks to the quick-responding dampers – adapted from motor racing – the control of the vehicle has been further improved and perfectly balanced. In addition to the unparalleled lateral acceleration, the precise interaction of the tyres on all-new, lighter 20-inch front, 21-inch rear “Arrow”-type flow-formed monoblock alloy wheels with centre-lock fixing ensures stable handling – further enhanced by the intelligent high-performance braking system from AP Racing with ESP/ABS from Bosch. Since the reconfigured Launch Control kicks in slightly later, for example, when accelerating around corners, the Apollo Arrow also delivers more dynamic performance in these types of situations. It goes without saying that the brake-cooling system in the front of the vehicle has been adapted to account for the increased engine output. The brakes, unmatched in terms of stability and performance, also have additional and larger air intakes. Vehicle ground clearance is adjustable between 40 mm and 120 mm.
_Body
Apollo has developed a brand new carbon body with an integrated carbon monocoque for the safety cell. A completely new spoiler significantly reduces wind noise and buffering in the interior. The window sill depth, gull-wing doors and central ram air intake were the key signature features of the original car, so these have been carefully retained and blended with the new design treatment – which wraps, front and rear, around a redesigned cockpit for taller drivers.
_Exterior
The entire vehicle exterior, including air ducts and the fuel and oil cap, are made from carbon. The metallic bright Wulfenite orange paintwork, which stretches from the bumper, across the wings to behind the door, ensures that the car will turn heads wherever it goes. Intricate details, such as the Wulfenite paintwork on the bottom of the rear wing and the interior of the striking double diffuser, further accentuate the car’s eye-catching design.
This strong colour scheme also mirrors Apollo’s “New Dawn” logo. Impressive wheel rims with centre lock fixing round off the car’s distinctive look.
_Individualization
There is no end to the customization and individualization options for the Arrow. We plan to produce a maximum of 100 unique Apollo Arrows, each of them exclusively tailored to its owner.
Apollo N Limited Edition
The Gumpert Apollo S held the Nurburgring record for more than four years, earning it the title of “Fastest Street-Legal Production Race Car”. To continue this legacy, we will be launching a limited edition Apollo N – with production restricted to just six vehicles.
The Apollo N has been made over with a powerful dual-colour scheme in black and white, perfectly blending its inner qualities with its exterior appearance.
A number of aerodynamic features from the original Gumpert Apollo S’s front and rear ends have been adapted for the Apollo N. The front is characterized by larger air intakes, while the two central air intakes to the left and right of the Apollo N radiator grille are split horizontally. The bottom air vent stretches sideways into the wheel housing, providing this exceptional sports car with an extremely accomplished appearance. Immediately behind the central air intake, there is a new, visually refined rear wing, which has been designed in a similar way to the wings used in motor racing. The rear end, which is also derived from the Apollo Enraged, is distinguished by a double diffusor and centrally positioned twin tailpipe.
The interior and seats showcase an aggressive, dynamic look that fits well with the positioning of the new Apollo N. A completely new developed instrument cluster is the new centre of the dash board. The full digital display is adjustable and offers three selectable driving modes - Basic, Sport and Race. Even individualization features are available on request.
