The Apollo Intenza Emozione is one of the most dramatic-looking hypercars money can buy and, so it's no wonder the company behind it is hard at work to make it go as good as it looks. New images of a test mule testing at Lausitzring prove that the IE will be at home on a road course.

We first caught a glimpse of the Apollo IE late last year and it was one of the most spectacular things on four wheels that we'd ever seen. It's as if the body was designed by the winds of a hurricane to be as aggressive as possible with ginormous carbon fiber aerodynamic elements at both ends. It was the perfect follow-up to the Gumpert Apollo and, just like the Gumpert, the IE is perfected on the race track.

The Full Story

The Apollo IE is the first product of the Apollo brand born from the ashes of Roland Gumpert's company which filed for bankruptcy five years ago. The IE, which stands for 'Intensa Emozione' or 'Intense Emotion', shares the same ethos with the Gumpert in that it is a hypercar that aims to be mind-bending on a race track.

Developed in a little over a year's time, the IE made its public debut in November of last year and has since been seen at a number of car shows - as well as the Goodwood Festival Of Speed - where it has claimed a high number of jaws that dropped the moment this thing rolled on the site. It's easy to see why. The carbon fiber body is shaped like that of novel Batmobile, so it looks like it's going 200 mph when it's sitting in a parking lot next to a Ford Focus. Then you've got all the aerodynamic elements that you see on pure race cars: huge splitter protruding forwards thanks to an extra pointy lip, enormous rear diffuser and gigantic wing that's connected to the roof by a fin, similar to what you see on Le Mans prototypes.

In fact, the IE produces 2,976 pounds of downforce when traveling at 186 mph. All that aerodynamic grip is necessary since we're talking about a car which is powered by a 6.3-liter N/A V-12 that produces 780-horsepower and 561 pound-feet of torque.

Putting all of that power on the tarmac through the sequential 6-speed gearbox isn't an easy feat, which is why the IE has been put through its paces all through this year before it's slated to enter production next year. Apollo was kind enough to release a few images of the purple IE road car with its golden rims that we all know and love testing alongside a white example at the Lausitzring track in Germany. Apollo has been assisted by HWA AG throughout the development process of the IE, so you can tell this will turn out to be stunning. If you haven't heard of HWA, they are the guys running the DTM program for Mercedes-Benz, as well as the company's Formula E program. They also offer support on the GT3 customer racing side at AMG.

This test was meant as a way to gather "data to analyze the thermal and aerodynamics, as well as testing recent updates,” said Apollo's CMO, Ryan Berris. "During this endurance test we also conducted in-depth analysis on recent significant engineering advancements that will be implemented prior to production commencing next year."

We don't know where the car might run, but the company does have some options: the SRO will debut next year a new GT2 category that will allow hypercars to compete in the GT Sports Club series as well as in the British GT in separate races. These hypercars will receive the same kind of treatment that GT4 cars do, which means they won't be developed to the extent of a GT3 (or GTE) racer, but will still get racing wheels, suspension, a rear wing, some other aero appendages, and a racing interior with all the safety features. The IE already looks ready for that category, although it could also be made to run in the VLN or the Nurburgring 24 Hours race in the SPX class for un-homologated race cars.

This is all speculation at this point, but more will be revealed by Apollo in due time, as chairman Norman Choi announced. Until then, if you want an IE, you'll have to start saving up every penny because one will set you back some $2,700,000.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Apollo Intensa Emozione.

Read our full review on the 2016 Apollo Arrow.