01.jpgThe performance of Gumpert's Apollo places it among the supercar elite, with its recent Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record for road legal cars further emphasizing those credentials. Now the German manufacturer is to add a second model in 2012 which it claims will create a new class of "Fast Tourers" with attributes of superior efficiency, performance, space, comfort and pleasure. Though Ferrari, Bentley, Porsche et al probably consider such a class already exists, it'll be interesting to see what gets unveiled at Geneva in a few weeks from now. The first image of the 700 bhp central-engined V8 Tornante was released today, so it's probably worth summarizing what we know already ...
In the development of the 2-seater coupe, TOURING was commissioned to design a vehicle adding elegance, space and comfort to a package rooted in motorsports and competition engineering.
The car’s performance and dynamic properties generated tight constraints for the designer. While respecting aerodynamics, ground effect, engine and brakes ventilation, special attention was given to comfort and ergonomics.
From two fairly different perspectives, GUMPERT and TOURING share the philosophy to remove everything that is not essential. Hence the shape is clean, efficient, and well-balanced. Innovative proportions were achieved in the rear section. A typical feature is the gull-wing opening of both the doors and the wide rear hood. Featuring composite body panels over a light chrome-molybdenum steel space frame with carbon fiber monocoque, the Tornante aims at lightness and torsional stiffness. This principle mirrors the original Superleggera construction method patented by Touring in 1936. The Tornante has the genes of the GUMPERT apollo and inherits its impressive Audi-based 4.2 litre V8 Biturbo engine which delivers 700bhp in the basic version. The drivetrain is also an apollo derivative, featuring as standard for the sake of comfort the TT40e gearbox with paddle shift control. The built-in double-wishbone suspension scheme from the apollo is adjusted to the requirements of the Fast Touring mission profile. Alongside the basic version, an alternative powered Tornante is also planned for 2012, though details have not yet been revealed on the alternate powerplant
