Remember Apollo? That would be the company playing on our intense automotive emotions with the insane V12-poweredIntensa Emozione supercar. There's a new limited-edition Apollo Evo in the pipeline, but that's now why we're writing up this post. Well, not entirely, anyway.It seems this car is going to have – surprise – an exhaust system. But it won't just be a menagerie of janky pipes, nor will it even be a neat row of forged titanium tubes meticulously lined up to belch out a symphony of horsepower. These pipes are going to be as much art as engineering, especially if you love snakes. Like, if you really love snakes.ApolloApollo says its new car will have an "ultra-exclusive" titanium exhaust that's the largest one-piece 3D printed system ever produced. But it's the design, detail, and finishing that got our attention. It adheres to Apollo's dragon individual car naming philosophy (Red Dragon, Blue Dragon, Samurai Dragon, and Ocean Dragon), and to give that some kind of physical representation, the pipes have what Apollo calls "dragon skin." And there was a good reason 3D printing was used for it. Technology As Art Apollo Thanks to the printer, Apollo created a seamless exhaust system from aerospace-grade alloy able to perform under high temperatures. And that's before using a high-temperature resistant ceramic coating capable of withstanding up to 1000°C. The design is complex and intricate, engineered with a lifelike look and feel that reminds us of H.R. Giger's biomechanical art style you might remember from the Alien movies. And it's available in several colors, so your "dragon skin" can even be your favorite color.This isn't just an exercise in artistic flair, either. The Dragon (still looks like snakes to us) concept woven in with the scales serves a practical purpose, improving heat distribution across the exhaust system. That's a very good thing for a high-performance engine, and the Apollo's mill certainly qualifies as high-performance. This is a track-dedicated supercar based around the Ferrari F140 V12 engine making over 800 horsepower, while revving out to 9,000 rpm."Apollo’s Dragon Skin exhaust embodies the brand’s core design DNA, serving as another extraordinary piece of Rebellious German Engineering. It seamlessly merges art, storytelling and extreme engineering into a single functional component. Sculpted to evoke awe, it represents the next stage of design evolution from Apollo Automobil."– ApolloAccording to Apollo, the exhaust takes 123 hours to print. And according to pretty much anyone with eyes, this could well be the coolest and/or creepiest exhaust system we've ever seen. That goes for De Tomaso's insane V12 exhaust that looks like steampunk crossing paths with machines from The Matrix.De Tomaso / Facebook If You Haven't Been Following Along Apollo Automobil GmbH touts itself as Germany’s only dedicated hypercar manufacturer, and kicked off its turbulent history as Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur with the 4.2 Audi V8-powered Apollo. It made quite a splash by beating the Pagani Zonda and Bugatti Veyron around the Top Gear test track. Following a bankruptcy, the company rebranded using the name Apollo and built 10 units of the wild-looking and insanely fast Apollo Intensa Emozione.Apollo"Following the success of the Apollo Intensa Emozione, it was obvious for us to push the envelope even further," said Niko Konta, Apollo CEO. "To extract the fullest potential from the platform, we have fine-tuned an already exceptional design while applying the latest in cutting-edge technologies and processes to truly take the Evo to another level."The Apollo Evo is the direct follow-up to the Intensa Emozione, using the same Ferrari V12 engine and, because it's a track car, a six-speed sequential transmission sending 800 horsepower to the rear wheels. It's a true evolution car with 20 hp extra, a new carbon fiber monocoque chassis, and new Le Mans hypercar-inspired aerodynamics to go with the smoother bodywork. The price has evolved as well. The Intensa Emozione sold for $2.5 million, while the Evo comes in at over $4 million.Apollo is only making 10 of the track-only Apollo Evo models, and hasn't delivered one yet. Apollo says the first one will be delivered in the first half of this year, wearing this exhaust system that will be the centerpiece of an already wild-looking car.
+27 others
