But do not let the art distract from the science. An army of air intake ducts and a rear air diffuser streamline the body and provide downforce. The vehicle boasts a lightweight chromoly steel monocoque spaceframe clothed in carbon fiber panels, and rests on a double wishbone suspension with adjustable dampers specially tuned for a sporty yet comfortable ride. The roadster also has adjustable ride height, making the Tornante a more street-ready vehicle. Massive gullwing doors add a timeless dash of style.
The Tornante is an unabashed supercar. A 4.2-liter twin-turbocharged V8 makes sure of that. The powerplant’s mate is a TT40e six-speed sequential double-clutch manual transmission with paddle shifters. The gearbox is representative of Gumpert’s obsessive attention of detail and performance, with shifts taking place within 40 milliseconds. Assisted by sequential multi-port direct fuel injection and dry sump lubrication, the Tornante cranks out a whopping 700 horsepower. With a top speed of 187 mph and a sub-three second 0-60 sprint, the Tornante makes good on its supercar promise. Incidentally, the same engine, housed in the Gumpert Apollo, set a former Nurburgring lap record at 7 minutes, 11.57 seconds.
The Gumpert Tornante occasionally masquerades as a city-slicked cruiser. It has 25% more interior volume than the Apollo and offers amenities such as heated seats, air conditioning, double-layered glass and other features, creature comforts conspicuously absent in most high-performance supercars. Despite its civilizing touches, the Tornante remains untamed and undomesticated. Shift it into fourth gear, and you will see its wilder and truer side.
