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Gumpert Confirms New Investors, Lineup Expansion on the Horizon  Last November, news came out that Gumpert was getting back on its feet after a recent rash of orders kept the company’s head above water. At that time, insolvency administrator, Görge Scheid, said that the company was still in the middle of looking for investors that would keep the company alive. Well, good news has arrived for Gumpert, as the supercar maker confirmed that it has not only secured a new investor but more importantly, it’s about to launch an expanded product range in the future. “Our distribution and dealer networks are being expanded worldwide and sister models will soon be added to the Apollo,” company founder, Roland Gumpert, said. For now, the company is keeping its plans under lock and key, although Gumpert did give some hints that one of the first models of the re-launched Gumpert will arrive this year at a "major trade fair". Maybe the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year? Whenever that is, it’s great to see Gumpert back on its feet. We probably speak for everyone when we say that we can’t wait for its next range of models to once again challenge for the title of "fastest car in the world.” Video: National Geographic Takes a Trip to Gumpert’s Headquarters
The world is replete with supercar manufacturers that are determined to stamp their presence in the industry. But only a few can lay claim to having had the same success as German supercar manufacturer Gumpert. As the folks behind the Apollo supercar — once considered as the fastest car in the world — Gumpert has become an industry legend, so much so that National Geographic has even taken notice. In the latest episode of their Megafactories series, the fine folks from Nat Geo take us on a chronological journey through the creation of one of Gumpert’s ultimate beasts, the Apollo Enraged, and the time frame it took for it to make its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. In addition, National Geographic also caught up with Roland Gumpert, the father of the brand, where he disclosed his plans for Gumpert to eventually hit mainstream. We’re not sure how that’s going to work, but if there’s one niche supercar brand that can pull it off, we won’t be surprised if it’s Gumpert. Production version Gumpert Tornante leaks on the internet
At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show Gumpert announced a new two-seater Tourer model to its lineup, and now the first images of the production version Tornante have finally surfaced on the internet. A big surprise for everyone considering that just a few months ago the company was facing insolvency. The production version Tornante looks a little bit updated when compared to the concept unveiled last year. It gets a louvred rear window, horizontal exhaust pipes and taillights inspired by the Lamborghini Gallardo. Other updates include a new front lip spoiler and redesigned headlamps. No details have been provided on the engine to be used in the production version, but we expect to see the same engine seen in the concept: a bi-turbo V8 with an output of 690 HP mated to a 6-speed semi-automatic gearbox controlled by paddle shifters. The concept was capable to hit a top speed of 186 mph, so we expect at least the same performance figures in the production version.
Gumpert Getting Back On its Feet, as Apollo Orders Trickle in Looks like Gumpert will live to see another day. Or multiple days, if the recent resurgence in sales keep up. After a recent filing for insolvency, the German supercar maker was able to restart production, allowing it to slowly yet steadily build on its order list to help the company not only survive but also "continue permanently and sustainably." Insolvency administrator Görge Scheid expressed enough confidence to say in a press release that the company is looking at far more stable days in the future. “We strongly assume that we will find an investor and save all 25 jobs in Altenburg”, he said. Before that, Gumpert must sustain production of the Apollo supercar and all of its variants. That certainly is possible, given there is strong demand for the supercar. Managing director, Roland Gumpert, is certainly looking at brighter days ahead, saying that the company is already expecting to sell four or five cars in the “next quarter". If Gumpert can ride on that momentum, then it’s brush with insolvency could end up becoming just a minor blip in company history.
Gumpert’s Future is Safe The maker of the Bugatti-killer is finally safe and secure, for now. This comes as good news for Gumpert fans who have been worried since August 2012 when the brand filed for insolvency. Over the past few weeks, several investors have been engaging in talks with the brand’s curator. The curator had many discussions with these parties offering a solution to the financial problems. They announced today that the outcome of the held discussions was to continue investing in the struggling sports car manufacturer, therefore keeping it’s future secured. The final decision on the future ownership of the manufacturer will be made this week. This particular investor will decide its future, which will affect the brand Gumpert and the continuation of its Apollo model line up. Though sources report that Gumpert has chosen the new, mysterious investor, they haven’t released any official statement about it yet. This suggests that Gumpert has only met with the investor, but has yet to sign any official documents. We will keep a close eye on this deal in the meanwhile. Updates shall be posted once the official statement is made. Gumpert files for insolvency amidst supply-demand issues The phrase ’filing for insolvency’ has been been thrown around a lot in the past couple of weeks. It wasn’t long ago that Melkus filed for insolvency amidst lagging sales that have effectively torpedoed their standing in the industry. It certainly didn’t help that they overpriced themselves out of the market, but that’s a story for another time. What is the story, at least the latest one involving insolvency proceedings, is Gumpert’s decision to follow in the footsteps of Melkus in its home country, citing - you guessed it - the company’s failure to balance the supply of their cars with the demands of it, particularly in the Chinese market. Now before you start crying for Gumpert’s demise, their move to apply for insolvency isn’t considered a death knell for the company. Rather, it gives them an opportunity to restructure their business in order for them to be able to cope with the demands of the market. There’s still a chance that Gumpert can get back on its feet, something Görge Scheid, the attorney tapped to handle the company’s insolvency case, alluded to in a statement to the media. Not much was divulged by the official announcement, but the company did acknowledge that they’ve been aggressive in looking for potential new investors for the company. It’s a move that could potential infuse some new life to Gumpert and restore its place in the business as one of the most popular niche supercar makers in the world. Video: Rare Gumpert Apollo crashes at Goodwood Festival of Speed
With the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed well under way and the fact that million dollar supercars race up the short hillclimb seemingly continually throughout each and every day of the event, it was only a matter of time before Goodwood’s first 2012 crash occurred. Rather than it being a cheap-to-repair hot hatch, the car involved in this serious incident was none other than an ultra-rare Gumpert Apollo in the closing meters of the hillclimb. The crash was captured on film, and the above video displays the true severity of the crash in which both the driver and passenger suffered minor injuries. No official cause for the crash has been identified thus far, but it seems pretty obvious to us that the driver went into the left-handed bend with a little too much speed which prompted the rear-end to step out, resulting in the car sliding uncontrollably into the hay barrier. Fortunately, this relatively soft crash barrier would have helped reduce the impact of the crash, while the Apollo’s carbon fiber monocoque undoubtedly played a role in protecting both occupants. A commenter on Shmee150’s blog has claimed that the female passenger was stuck in the car for upwards of an hour before being admitted to hospital for no less than 5 hours with bruises. 2012 Gumpert Apollo Enraged
A super secretive Gumpert model was headed to the 2012 Geneva Motor Show and when the wraps came off, onlookers were made privy to the luscious, new Apollo R and a scintillating special edition, the Apollo Enraged. The Apollo Enraged not only succeeded in being kept a secret until only a day before Geneva, but it will also succeed at being one of the most exclusive (the sole Aventador J takes the cake on exclusivity) with only three units being produced of the super car. The new Apollo Enraged is powered by a 4.2 liter V8 twin-turbo engine that delivers a total of 780 HP and a peak torque of 678 lb-ft. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and to 124 mph in just 8.7 seconds. Take that, Mr. Exclusive Aventador J! The car is a mixture of aluminum and carbon fiber with Vortex generators, a carbon rear wing, and carbon louvers for wheel ventilation. It also features an F1-style airbox, an air lift system, LED daytime running lights, and a new set of aluminum alloy wheels with center locking and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. The interior receives a flag design embroidery on the seats and headrests, and a digital LCD instrument panel. "Even though the Apollo Enraged is street legal, it nevertheless carries the racing sports genes of the Apollo R," is how Roland Gumpert describes the limited special edition. "Ok, so perhaps it is a bit crazy to take the most extreme, barely still street legal vehicle and make it even more extreme. But the idea behind the Enraged, just like the Apollo R itself, embodies our philosophy and our understanding of pure German speed with absolute consistency." UPDATE 03/08/2012: Check out the new set of live images from the car’s official debut in Geneva! 2012 Gumpert Apollo R
When that letter "R" is attached to a car, you know that the company behind it has something juicy up their sleeves. We’ve seen it with the Koenigsegg Agera R, the Pagani Zonda R, and even the Porsche 911 GT3 R. For their part, the folks over at Gumpert have always taken pride in their Apollo supercar, so much so that at one point, it held the title of fastest supercar in the world. So how do you top what was once a record-setting a machine? You up the ante and introduce the Gumpert Apollo R. As the latest in a long line of special model Gumpert Apollos, the Apollo R follows in the footsteps of its predecessors by being, in every sense of the phrase, an insanely ridiculous machine on four wheels. We know what the Apollo is capable of so it’s really interesting how Gumpert worked on improving the capabilities of the Apollo R. After all, they wouldn’t have put that "R" in its name without any reason. Find out more about the Gumpert Apollo R after the jump. Full story
Gumpert unveils new teaser image for their Geneva-bound supercar
Gumpert announced their intended presence at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of this year and followed that up with two teaser images of their mysterious future super car. Now it’s time to see a third teaser one. Take a look at the third teaser image and you’ll see that Gumpert will actually be bringing two exclusive debuts to Geneva next week. Gumpert is describing these vehicles as "Pure German Speed!" The "R" in "Discover" is noteworthy; maybe the new supercar will be the Apollo R? Whatever it turns out to be, Gumpert has said that the new vehicle will be a successor for the company’s famous Apollo and will be more powerful and faster. We may be needing to revise our list of Fastest Cars sooner than we had anticipated. More details about Gumpert’s new supercar will be unveiled on March 6th when it’s unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, so stay tuned! | Gumpert cars reviews2012 2011 2010 2009 2007 2006 Full story
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