Yesterday, we featured the Gumpert Apollo Sport setting a road-production car lap record at the Nurburgring with a time of 7:11.57. The time, which was set by Florian Gruber, proved that the Apollo Sport is one mean driving machine. Today, we have the a video of the ‘record-setting’ lap, courtesy of our good friends at Sport Auto.

There, of course, remains some scepticism as to whether or not the Apollo Sport did break the record especially considering that the Radical SR8, another car that falls into the category of ‘road-production vehicle’, blasted through the same track at 6:55 four years ago.

But that’s a debate for another time. We’re here to acknowledge the achievement of the folks from Gumpert. Record or not, a time of 7:11.57 by a road-production car at the extremely demanding Nurburgring Nordscheif is an accomplishment in every sense of the word.

Press release after the jump.

Video:Gumpert Apollo Sport blazing through the Nurburgring in 7:11 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 20 August 2009 12:00 EST.

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When former member of the Volkswagen Family, Roland Gumpert decided to leave the marque back in 2004 in order to create his own interpretation of the track ready and road legal super car he was out to make a statement. His current creation is powered by a 700 HP version of Audi’s bi-turbo 4.2 Liter V8, the Gumpert Apollo can go from 0 to 120 MPH in just 8.9 seconds and has a top speed just shy of 225 MPH. However if you want to be taken seriously as a super car manufacturer, you need more than just straight line performance. That is why back on August 13th, Roland hired 26 year old driver Florian Gruber to pilot an Apollo Sport around the Nurburgring, the young racing driver crossed the line in exactly 7 minutes and 11.57 seconds. Setting a new record for a production car around the Nordschleif.

The new record is over 10 seconds faster than the Viper SRT-10 ACR that is currently in third and a full 15 seconds ahead of the Nissan GT-R/Porsche 911 Turbo conspiracy. It is even faster than the upcoming Lexus LF-A around the ’Ring. If you can think about it in racing terms, if you can compare the lap times between an F1 car and the similarly shaped Indy car at the 2.71 mile, 15 turn Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal where both cars race. Sebastien Bourdais was able to win pole position in the Indy car with a time of 1:20.396 while Jenson Button won the pole in his F1 car with a lap time of 1:15.217. In this instance 5 seconds is the difference between night and day, a racing engineer would kill for that kind of advantage; and we are talking about a few hundred horse power and a couple hundred pounds difference. So spread that around the 12.9 mile Nordschleife circuit complete with its 33 left and 40 right turns; completing a lap in only 7:11 is quite an impressive feat.

Press release after the jump.

Gumpert Apollo Sport runs the 'Ring in 7:11 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 19 August 2009 15:00 EST.

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The latest edition of the funky looking track day specials from Germany, the Gumpert Apollo Speed, a car that is scheduled to make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March. Looking like they are on schedule, the first set of prototypes have been caught testing at Nurburgring, so a final production version cannot be too far off.

The Apollo Speed is powered by a 4.2 Liter V8 engine with 5 valves per cylinder that delivers 700 HP and a peak torque of 645 lb ft of torque. The engine is mated to a sequential six-speed gearbox with full synchronization and sufficient oil cooling. The race spec twin plate clutch configuration keeps the rotating mass low, robbing less power from the Audi sourced power plant.

The Gumpert can go from 0 to 60 MPH in under three seconds, hit 200 km/h (124 MPH) after just 8.9 seconds and won’t stop until it hits a top speed of 223 MPH. The editorial staff is waiting for a Gumpert to arrive in the Top Speed test fleet, we’ll keep you pasted as to how it goes.

Gumpert Apollo Speed prototype spied testing at the Nurburgring originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 July 2009 16:00 EST.

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Gumpert revealed at the Geneva Motor Show the most powerful Apollo ever. The Apollo Speed is powered by a 4,163 cm3 V8 engine with 5 valves per cylinder that delivers 700 HP at 6,500 rpm and a peak torque of 645,3 lb ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a sequential six-speed gearbox with synchronization and oil cooling, twin plate clutch configuration.

The car can go from standing still to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.0 seconds. A speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) is reached in just 8.9 seconds. His maximum speed is over 360 km/h (223 mph).

Press release after the jump.

Gumpert Apollo Speed originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 4 March 2009 07:44 EST.

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The Gumpert Apollo is one of the cars we always like. It takes an Audi 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 and makes one of the quickest cars around. But that doesn’t seem good enough for Gumpert, because it is bering an even faster car to the Geneva Motor Show.

It’s called the Apollo Speed, and aerodynamics are its claim to fame. Gumpert will still offer the same choices of 650 hp, 700 hp or 800 hp (race-only) variations for the Audi V8, but revised body work will return 0 to 62 mph (100 kmh) in 3 seconds and 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in just 8.9 seconds. Top speed goes up to 224 mph.

Things that haven’t changed on the car include the delicious carbon / aluminium sandwich that holds the Apollo together. We don’t yet have full details on how different the Speed version will look, but all will be revealed to us at Geneva in March - stay tuned.

Press release after the jump.

Gumpert Apollo Speed to be revealed in Geneva originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 13 February 2009 09:00 EST.

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There is at least some good news in a tough economic climate that has put many supecars on life-support. The fastest car on Top Gear’s test track shows no signs of slowing. Gumpert has announced plans to get production of their Apollo supercar up to nose-bleedingly high numbers: 25. Well, that’s a significant number considering it took three years to build the first 40 cars.

The be-fast-if-you-can’t-be-pretty sports car is powered by an Audi-sourced 650 hp twin-turbo V8. That’s good for 0-60 mph time in under three seconds and a top speed of 220 mph.

The extremely egotistic (which is somewhat earned) press release after the jump.

Gumpert ups Apollo production in 2009 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 16 December 2008 18:00 EST.

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Gumpert Apollo- Fastest New Supercar?

Top Gear’s top car couldn’t stay off these shores forever. It seems that Gumpert will officially import its Apollo supercar to the U.S. The car may look ugly, but its 650 hp Audi-sourced twin-turbo V8 makes it beautifully fast. The only thing quicker than the car is the money escaping your wallet. Base price is around $400,000 and can climb as high as $750,000.

For regulation purposes, the cars will be imported as a kit and assembled in the U.S. Watch as the assembler, Evolution Motorsports of Arizona, goes through the U.S. spec cars.

Gumpert Apollo coming to the U.S. originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 9 September 2008 11:22 EST.

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If you’re not in part of the World that gets BBC2, or you don’t cheat and get it online, you may be missing out on the latest series of Top Gear. Until the new episodes get to you, watch as German sportscar maker Gumpert has got the guys at Top Gear pretty excited with its Apollo. This Audi-based supercar uses its 650 horsepower twin turbo V-8 to set the new track record.

Gumpert Apollo, new fastest car on Top Gear track originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 14:25 EST.

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Last month we reported that Gumpert will compete at the 24 Hours Nurnburgring in May with a hybrid Apollo. And today we bring you the first images and details about the car.

Instead of using the road-going Apollo’s 650bhp, 4.2-litre V8, engineers have opted for a 3.3-litre V8 and a 100kW electric motor that together produce 630bhp. The petrol-electric racer also comes with a regenerative braking system that charges its lithium-ion batteries.

Ex Formula 1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen and American Le Mans series driver Dirk Muller will be piloting the Apollo hybrid at the 24-hour race, which takes place on 24-25 May.

The car will compete with models like Porsche 911 GT3, Dodge Viper, Lamborghini Gallardo, BMW Z4 and Chevrolet Corvette.

Gumpert Apollo hybrid racing version originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 23 May 2008 13:48 EST.

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Gumpert will compete at the 24 Hours Nurnburgring in May with a hybrid Apollo. The decision was made due to new Formula 1 regulations that says that every teams must use hybrid engines.

The Hybrid Aopollo will be powered by a combination of a 3.3 liter V8 engine and an 100 KW electric motor. The V8 engine has an output of 630 hp.

The car will compete with models like Porsche 911 GT3, Dodge Viper, Lamborghini Gallardo, BMW Z4 and Chevrolet Corvette.

Hybrid Apollo to compete at 24 Hours Nurnburgring originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 23 April 2008 16:49 EST.

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In 2006 Gumpert will unveil the 641 hp Gumpert Apollo super car, in 2007 they unveiled the 800 hp Apollo Sport. This year Gumpert will not come with a new version, but they will be displaying two Apollo’s in a new color, black.

Gumpert Apollo is powered by a V8 engine that delivers 641 HP at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 626.9 lb ft at 4,500. It reaches a top speed of 224 mph, and makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in three seconds.

Black Gumpert Apollo to debut in Geneva originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 28 February 2008 10:36 EST.

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On Saturday, 10th of November 2007 the Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH invites their customers and interested guests to the Airport Altenburg-Nobitz to a pre-winter driving event.

Gumpert test drive track event originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 October 2007 15:55 EST.

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Gumpert official web page reports: On Wednesday, 14th of November 2007 a course of lectures to the topic "Innovations in the automotive engineering" will take place at FH JOANNEUM in Graz. Tobias von Rad, Development Engineer of the Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH gives a lecture in the context of this course on the positioning, development, production and series production of the super sports car Apollo.

Gumpert Apollo - from concept to production car? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 10 October 2007 18:00 EST.

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Gumpert Apollo S Video Review originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 3 October 2007 06:00 EST.

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It is one of only a handful of super sport cars and after its debut at Geneva’s international Motor Show in 2006 it was clear: the apollo is a synthesis of dynamic and design with pure driving pleasure and unique performance. On the road it speeds like a god and on the race track it cries out to be challenged by an opponent that can match its breathtaking acceleration and incomparable handling. Now, it is due to get a worthy competitor out of its own stable. At the 77th Geneva Motor Show, the Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur will present the apollo sport to the wide public.

Gumpert Apollo Sport originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 26 February 2007 21:00 EST.

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