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The 2015 Gumpert Apollo S stands out with its 700bhp twin-turbo V8 and dramatic gullwing doors. This road test delves into its technical features, performance, and striking design.
The bottom left suspension shares space with a 700bhp twin-turbo V8, while gullwing doors provide maximum visual impact; the rear is possibly its most dramatic angle. The engine is based on the Audi RS6's 90º 4.2-litre V8 with five valves per cylinder and features four overhead camshafts, VarioCam direct timing, high-performance con-rods, forged pistons, and two MTM turbochargers. A forged crankshaft was designed for high torsional stiffness and low mass, with a dry sump to ensure proper oil flow in all conditions.
Two intercoolers are described by Gumpert as ‘immense’ and cool the turbo's compressed output before it reaches the combustion chambers. The car employs electronic ignition paired with eight ignition coils and sequential multipoint fuel injection, all managed by a drive-by-wire electronic accelerator.
Various power levels were available: 650bhp for the base version, 700bhp for the S (Sport) version, and 800bhp for the full-blown R (Race) track model. The Apollo uses an Italian CIMA longitudinal sequential six-speed gearbox with bespoke ratios. Weight distribution is classically biased 58% towards the rear.
Unlike many rivals, the suspension was designed with ample compression and rebound to handle abrupt real-world surface changes, such as dips, bumps, hollows, cracks, and potholes, which can cause a terminal loss of control in cars with limited suspension travel. Double transverse control arms front and rear keep the tyre treads perfectly connected to the road surface. Ride height can be set between 40mm and 120mm, depending on road or track use. Stabilisers prevent diving during hard braking and lifting during acceleration, with all articulation via sealed uniball joints.
This particular example is an Apollo S, currently offered by Carugati, a prominent Geneva dealership founded by respected racer Tiziano Carugati. Chassis W09GUA2157AG64021 was first sold in Geneva in January 2015 and later resold to its current owner in Ticino, Italy. It has just had a major service, and Carugati's representative, Marc Seynave, is present to provide details.
The car looks ominous in matt black, a colour that suits it perfectly—a stealth fighter jet for the road. The body is impressively smooth, especially for glassfibre. A group of teenagers ignored other Italian GT and supercars nearby, focusing their attention squarely on the Apollo S, which looks like a video game escapee.
The nose is blunt and purely functional—Roland Gumpert’s philosophy of efficiency over aesthetics is evident. The sides are shaped solely to channel cooling air into huge intakes ahead of the rear wheels, while the rear is even more dramatic.
