The German automobile industry is perhaps the leader in motoring as for years it has been the only “school” that has been dueling with the Japanese for the global top. German luxury, German quality, German excellence , are some phrases that accompany the most famous models of Audi, BMW, Mercedes, etc.
Edited by: Giorgos Pallikaris
But apart from the affordable and mainstream models we know, there are some supercars with a German identity that are considered extremely rare and cost accordingly. We take a look at some of them that either got lost in time or disappeared due to financial problems of their companies.
Gumpert Apollo: It may have had a reputation as one of the ugliest cars of its era, but there’s no denying that the Gumpert Apollo is a seriously capable car. It has an Audi V8 engine that reaches 789 hp making it extremely fast on the track. Rumor has it that it only crossed the production line 50 times before the company went bankrupt in 2013.
Isdera Commendatore 112i: The Isdera Commendatore 112i was originally revealed in 1993 as a fully functional concept car, with the idea that production would begin in the following years. Unfortunately, financial problems at the company did not allow for its mass production, so the unique prototype ended up being sold initially to a private collector and then auctioned by RM Sothebys in early 2021.
Lotec Sirius : Lotec’s first creation was the C1000, a one-of-a-kind 1995 set built to special order by a Middle Eastern oil baron. In 2001, the company unveiled its next venture, an 850hp supercar with a starting price of €800,000 that featured a Mercedes V12 engine and managed a top speed of over 350km/h. Ultimately only one model was ever made.
Apollo Intensa Emozione: Production of the car began in 2019, with a strictly limited run of just ten units with a starting price of $2.6 million. The Intensa Emozione is powered by a Ferrari V12 engine that produces 780 horsepower, yet the entire car weighs only 1,249 kg.
Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion: One of the many incredible cars that came out of motorsport’s approval canines. The 911 GT1 Strassenversion was created to enable Porsche to run in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The rules of the time dictated that a minimum of 25 cars must be built, so that’s exactly how many Porsches built. With a 600 horsepower engine, this is one of the few cars that can truly live up to its reputation as a “racing car for the road.”
