He returned to Germany at the end of 2001, after over three years in China where he was the head of sales and marketing responsible for the development of the dealer network of the Audi-VW joint enterprise there.

Audi approved Gumpert's involvement in this project, on the condition that, if they did eventually develop a new sports car, it would not be a prototype, but a series product.

During a review in Autocar magazine, chief test driver Matt Prior stated that "the Apollo recalibrates the meaning of pure speed and driving feel."

It is a mid-engine, rear wheel drive two-seater constructed on a tubular chromoly frame, with fiberglass or optional carbon fibre body panels.

Gumpert claims the design of the Apollo is optimised so that the car could drive upside-down in a tunnel if driven at speeds over 306 km/h (190 mph),[7] but this has not been tested.