At the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, Apollo was ready to show its new direction with the Arrow concept. Yet here we are 19 months later, and the company’s first real product, the “Intensa Emozione” is nothing like that idea. That’s because they’ve done a lot to push the design far beyond what the original Apollo chassis could handle.
After turning the Gumpert-based Apollo N into a functional track car by completely redesigning its innards, Norman came to the conclusion that the tubular chromoly space frame Gumpert designed was not something they could work with long term. Then it was decided that they would switch to a naturally aspirated V 12 instead of a twin turbo Sixth is v 8 as well.
Once they were done looking at the new blank slate, Apollo moved forward simply by teaming up with Paolo Garella, the engineer whose recent works include Scuderica Cameron Clickenhaus’ race frame for the SCG 003. Based on what they learned from Glickenhaus’ In In In the ürburgring program, Garella’s Manifattura Automobili Torino built an even tighter carbon fiber frame, happy to be freed from the packaging issues associated with forced-induction motors, but still challenged by the styling team to fit both a Sixth is v doze as to a 26.4 gallon fuel cell, all without compromising balance.
The result is a fully CO2 chassis with a carbon monocoque, as well as carbon fiber front and rear subframes, plus crash structures that are seamlessly integrated into the exterior design. The platform weighs just 231 pounds, allowing the Apollo IE to claim a curb weight figure of 2,755 pounds, with a 45/55 percent split front/rear.
The IE sits on a 106-inch wheelbase, with an overall length of 16.5 feet. It’s also nearly two meters wide at 6.5ft, while its ride height is hydraulically adjustable between 60 and 160mm. The standard configuration of the road is usually 110 m. The adjustable shocks come from Bilstein, while the rest of the suspension is definitely a double wishbone setup with full pushrod and rocker architecture at both ends, along with flexible anti-roll bars.
For those hard days on the track, the IE also comes with a pneumatic quick-lift system with four air intakes. Supporting the action are Apollo co2 ceramic Brembo brakes with 6-piston calipers up front and four-piston at the rear, barely concealed behind forged aluminum BBS wheels.
Tuned to produce 780 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 560 pound-feet of torque at 6,000 rpm, the Apollo six. 3 V12 is a variant of the Ferrari F12 engine, with new software, plus a custom intake and exhaust system developed by Autotecnica Motori in Italy. It accelerates to 9000, while the tach goes to 11.
The V12 uses a 6-speed paddle-operated Hewland racing gearbox. Meanwhile, Apollo will also be working on a dual-clutch automatic transmission for its future cars, like the upcoming Arrow that will debut in 2019.
There’s also a 12-level traction control program, mostly because there are three drive modes to keep things tidy, but the lack of turbos in the blue-blooded V12 promises old-school thrills in a 2,976-lb. of downforce at 186 mph.
Despite most of the engineering, though, the Apollo IE’s most fascinating feature remains its exterior styling, which was the function of two men in their early twenties operating from home. Yes. This car was created in the living room of a 27-year-old.