The Apollo logo is sharp and classy. The emblem is full of fire and indicates movement on high-speed tracks. The sign contains an element of protection to show the reliability and safety of the machines’ operation.
Roland Gumpert was born in 1944 and joined Audi AG in 1969 as a test engineer. He later became head of sports and special development at Audi Sport. In the 1980s, Audi teams under his management scored 25 rally wins and four world championship titles, during the rise of the quattro all-wheel-drive system. After working in China for VW-Audi, he returned to Germany in 2001.
The sports car project began after Gumpert was approached by his former Audi colleague, Roland Mayer, founder of Motoren Technik Mayer. Audi allowed Gumpert to take part only if the car became a production model. Marco Vanetta created the design, with technical input from universities in Munich and Ingolstadt. In 2004, GMG Sportwagenmanufaktur Altenburg GmbH was registered in Thuringia.
In 2005, the company became Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH and began production of the Apollo. The car used a 4.2-liter twin-turbo Audi V8 producing 650 hp and costing nearly 300,000 euros. On Top Gear in 2008, Apollo Sport set a 1:17.1 lap, ahead of Ascari A10, Bugatti Veyron, and Pagani Zonda. In 2009, Apollo recorded a time of 7:11 at the Nürburgring.
Gumpert struggled with low production, sometimes around 30 cars a year. The 2011 Tornante concept with Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera did not reach production, and the company went bankrupt in 2013. In 2016, Ideal Team Venture bought it and renamed it Apollo Automobil GmbH. The Arrow concept followed, then the 2017 Apollo Intensa Emozione, a V12 track hypercar developed with HWA AG and limited to 10 cars.
Meaning and History
The brand’s visual sign includes Asian features. This is visible in the image elements. The similarity indicates that the brand is owned by the Asian concern Ideal Team Venture.
What is Apollo?
It is a German automaker known for producing sports cars. The company is recognized for its flagship model, Apollo IE (Intensa Emozione), which combines advanced technology and striking design. The brand’s cars are characterized by exceptional speed and engineering excellence. The brand delivers exciting driving sensations, making its cars highly sought after among car enthusiasts and collectors.
2004 – 2016
From 2004 to 2016, Apollo marked a vibrant chapter in automotive history. The brand’s logo, shaped like a shield, featured a rising griffon symbolizing strength, vigilance, and mastery over land and air. These qualities of the griffon emphasize the focus and attention required by drivers when handling high-speed vehicles. Racing tracks and urban roads, depicted in the logo as two elements, highlight the cars’ dynamism and adaptability.
Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur, founded by Roland Gumpert, owned and manufactured this new brand. The first logo featured the name Gumpert, paying homage to the founder. The product was initially named Gumpert Apollo, establishing a strong association with the brand.
The emblem’s shield-like shape evokes the theme of safety, crucial for high-speed vehicles, and resembles a headlight, emphasizing automotive engineering. The red color in the logo symbolizes speed and underscores the premium class of the brand’s vehicles, highlighting their performance and prestige.
2016 – today
The sign features a shield with a rising gradient, and the letter A is composed of sharp blades. The shield is an element of protection. It represents safety, which is important for the rider. Sharp sabers are like perfectly fitted parts, and the honed craftsmanship of manufacturers.
The letter A is the first in the brand name. The company was named after a Greek deity. Apollo is a versatile person and is considered the patron of many activities. However, extraordinary beauty is one of the most remarkable features of the son of Zeus.
The external brightness connects the Greek youth with the brand’s cars. Racing car designs are impossible to ignore: turned edges, streamlined elements, and shining carbon-fiber bodies.
“Beautiful” and the characteristics of the car. The low weight allows the machines to move gracefully and quickly at speeds of 335 to 360 km/h. And their power ranges from 700 to 1000 horsepower. Acceleration to 100 km occurs in 3 seconds.
The connection with Apollo can also be traced in the visual sign. The elements of the letter A resemble a curved bow. The creation of the bowstring and arrows is attributed to a resident of the Greek pantheon and his sister, Artemis.
Therefore, Apollo is the patron of the young brand, helping it grow and develop.
Font and Colors
The brand’s main colors are used in a gradient. Inside the dark carbon-fiber body, a hot red heart lights up and beats, animating the machine and setting it in motion.
The shades match the body colors of the Apollo cars. The Arrow car is orange, the Intensa Emozione is a black car with red or orange elements on its wheels, and the ApolloN is a handsome black-and-white man. The transition from orange to black on the shield shows the models’ evolution by appearance date.
There are no inscriptions on the sign. The letter A’s font is unique. The elements look like a star, one of the symbols on the coat of arms of Hong Kong, the area where the new brand owners are located.



