I don't know if you've read anything about this crazy cool car, but I wanted to show it to ya'. It uses an Audi powerplant. In the showroom. Promo Pick. The logo on the car for the Gumball. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Love it. Heard about it for 2-3 years ago. Audi engine, right? Or was it the Ascari that had Audi engine? Lots of cool supercars coming these days, good with variety. But I doubt many will handle this car very well (aka. drive it on the limit and get away with it) - I guess the reward is huge if you can according to the Top Gear track record held by it.
Yup, it's an Audi engine. It does have issues with grip as the turbos kick in. It wants to step out and it almost needs to be straight to go, but it's just another nod towards less luxury and more race similar to what we all wanted in the F40 and really never got again.
Too radical looking for me, may go fast but the looks are definitely not there. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I'm not sure how much ground this actually holds, but it recently set the lap record at Top Gear's test track, Stig at the wheel. This car in blue had been my wallpaper for a few days now. Interesting from all angles, and by no means a slouch!
Maybe I'm weird for saying this, but I really do think the Top Gear track is a good benchmark, especially since there is one guy driving and he is a pro driver and one track that isn't a straight line. If the Stig wasn't the driver I think I'd have different look, but he really does know what he is doing. Is it an exact science? By no means, but it's also no respecter of car, which means it won't cater to any particular style of car and you can't pull out the one you like and give all the reasons it's the best while crashing on the ones you don't, which the Gumpert would definitely fall into the looks could give it a bad wrap department. It simply says, go and sorts it out at the finish line and I think it's done an exceptional job at that. I think the benefits of the test track, now lost since it's off the air, proved to be too formidable for the Bugatti Veyron, which never supplied a car for their time trial.
I don't think you're weird for saying it at all...look at the leader board. It seems as though they have developed a track that seems to put cars in a fair place among their peers. The only thing with that is the rumor that there may or may not be different Stigs has yet to be dispelled. I have seen the police report after Hammond's crash where at least one F1 driver was pointed out as being present.
There are definitely more than one Stig. The real question is, was there only 2. ha ha. I would say yes, but if you'll notice that white Stig's line, he is consistent and the comment from Clarkson about the unusual line he takes on the back of the track that definitely makes it faster. So if there is more than two then they're clones. He also always has a standing start, so you take that take off speed into context. I'm not a big fan of the 0-100-0 test.
Last i heard there was at least 3 (not including special Stigs e.g. Winter Olympics special) , not going to sat any names as at least to of them can be found with out much effort
Was able to get a ride in this wild beast...here's the in-car video: CLICK FOR VIDEO And here are the original pics posted a few days after it's arrival into the USA: CLICK FOR PHOTO GALLERY
I love these things! They look like Darth Vader on wheels. All they need to add is cockpit adjustable ride height and this would be the car to have.
I thought they did have adjustable height. Well, everything else is adjustable! You even get a knob for traction control... a knob!
I think you have to get out, find a wrench, and adjust the ride height by hand. Murcielago, Enzo, and quite a few others supercars have a button to raise the height of the front end to go over speed bumps. Gumpert would do well to add that feature to their cars.
Yes, it's wrench work, but its little more involved than the bumper raiser of other vehicles. Think, more like the Koenigsegg adjustments.
Love this car, even its looks. It's damn fast in Sport form, but I have seen nothing on just how fast it is in Race form with 800bhp.
Top Gear Video....this machine is insane. http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Top-Gear-Gumpert-Apollo_174124.htm
Here's a vid I made of the Apollo that was in the Gumball 3000 this year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W68KsMnGuMg&fmt=18 -Brian