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 be able 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 that Gumpert has designed was not something they could work with long-term. Then it was decided that they would switch to a naturally aspirated V 12 rather than a Sixth is v 8 biturbo as well.
Once they were done looking at the new blank sheet, Apollo moved on by simply teaming up with Paolo Garella, the engineer whose recent jobs include the Scuderica Cameron Clickenhaus career frame for the SCG 003. Based on what they have learned from Glickenhaus ‘In on the ürburgring program, Garella’s Manifattura Automobili Torino built an even tighter carbon fiber frame, happy to be freed from the packaging problems associated with forced induction motors, but still challenged by the styling team to adapt. both a Sixth is v doze and a 26. 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 2755-pound curb weight figure, with a 45/55 percent distribution to the front and rear.
The IE sits on a 106-inch wheelbase, with an overall length of 16.5 feet. It’s also nearly six feet wide at 6.5 feet, while its ride height can be hydraulically adjusted between 60 and 160mm. The standard road setting is usually 110mm. The adjustable shocks come from Bilstein, while the rest of the suspension is definitely a double wishbone setup with full pushrod and rocker arm architecture at both ends, along with flexible stabilizer bars.
For those tough days on the track, the IE also comes with a quick lift pneumatic system with four air intakes. Supporting the action are Apollo’s CO2 ceramic Brembo brakes with 6-piston calipers at the front and four-pistons at the rear, barely hidden behind the forged aluminum BBS rims.
Tuned to produce 780 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 560 pound-feet of torque at 6,000 rpm, Apollo’s six. 3 V12 is a variety of the Ferrari F12 engine, with new software, as well as a custom intake and exhaust system developed by Autotecnica Motori in Italy. Throttle to 9000, while the tachometer goes to 11.
The V12 uses a paddle-operated 6-speed Hewland race gearbox. Meanwhile, Apollo may also be working on a dual-clutch automatic transmission for its future cars, like the next Arrow that will debut in 2019.
There’s also a 12-level traction control program, mainly because there are three driving modes to keep things neat, but the lack of turbos in the blueblood V12 promises old-school thrills in a car that weighs 2,976 pounds. of downforce at 186 mph.
Yet despite most of the engineering, the Apollo IE’s most fascinating feature remains its exterior styling, which was the function of two guys in their twenties operating from home. Yes. This car was created in the living room of a 27-year-old young man.