Gumpert Takes Wraps of New Tornante Supercar

[OmarKareem]

This year’s Geneva Motor Show has seen a good concentration of new supercar introductions. Lamborghini unveiled the new Aventador LP700-4, a successor to the Murcielago LP-670-4 SuperVeloce, and Pagani took the wraps off the Huayra

German manufacturer Gumpert is taking its turn now with the Tornante. The Tornante succeeds the Apollo supercar that debuted in 2005. Like Pagani, Gumpert focuses on delivering a more refined experience with increased performance

The Tornante is definitely more aesthetically pleasing than its Apollo forebear. Gumpert worked with Italian coachbuilding manufacturer Touring Superleggera on the car’s design

The Apollo was a very over-the-top and in-your-face design with many different surface elements going on. The Tornante gets a smoothened out appearance that improves aerodynamics and reduces visual busyness

Up front there is a large grille with redesigned front intakes working in concert with smaller, more modern headlamps. Key elements from the Apollo like the cabin-mounted rear view mirrors and gull-wing doors remain. A smoothened body shoulder runs to the rear of the car, turning into large, flowing haunches. The rear gives of a bit of an old Corvette vibe, with dual taillights at each corner and a split rear window. The car’s main inspiration overall seems to be taken from aviation

The Superleggera (Italian for “super light”) in Touring Superleggera is definitely in full effect for the Tornante. The body is made from composite, with a chrome-molybdenum steel space frame and a carbon fiber monocoque

Official performance specifications have yet to be released, but the car sticks with Audi-sourced power, using the Apollo’s 4.2-liter twin-turbo V-8. Gumpert, of course, did some reengineering that results in a power output of 700 horsepower and 663 pound feet of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic

The Tornante is set to go on sale in 2012, and the company says an even more powerful performance version in the works, planned for a launch around the same time