There have been many significant milestones in the evolution of going very fast. From Jaguar XK120 to Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari Testarossa and a host more, it's been a flat-out race to the 200mph supercar era (heralded by the Ferrari F40) and then beyond into the 1,000hp and 250mph realm of the Bugatti Veyron.
Now, created by the team behind the /DRIVE network, Apex records a new chapter in automotive history. It follows Christian von Koenigsegg in his quest to create the Koenigsegg One:1, the first Megawatt car (a car with a 1:1 power to weight ratio). Featuring contributions from Chris Harris, Alex Roy, Mike Spinelli, Dan Neil and Travis Okulski, plus input from the manufacturers themselves, there's insight galore.
Starting with the question: 'what is a hypercar?' the pundits discuss the move from sports car to supercar to hypercar. With the old guard challenged by the likes of Pagani and Koenigsegg we are transported behind the scenes of both, new-school filming techniques honed on YouTube - including POV driving shots - putting you in the driving seat like never before.
The documentary plays off the contrasting ideologies of the featured marques as their founders discuss the differences between aesthetics and engineering. Horacio Pagani talks of an obsession held from childhood with cars designed to go fast without sacrificing beauty, this carried through in the blend of emotive design and incredible performance found in the cars carrying his name. In contrast he believes Koenigsegg builds incredible machines, albeit with an emphasis more firmly on outright speed. It is clear the design philosophies of both men are deep-rooted, shaped inextricably by childhood experiences and influences.
Things are changing though as Dan Greenawalt, Creative Director of Turn 10 Studios, explains. Pagani and Koenigsegg's generation were brought up staring at posters of cars on their bedroom walls. The next generation don't have to daydream but instead have the opportunity to virtually race their fantasy cars around circuits both real and imagined. Apex's inclusion of the gaming community serves to remind us there is more need than ever to inspire the younger generation the way posters on the wall and dog-eared magazines did an earlier one.
Thought-provoking, beautifully filmed and thrilling viewing, Apex is a must-see for any petrolhead; moreover, it boasts production values and insight that give it broader appeal. OK, maybe not a first date movie but one you might just about slip into the domestic viewing schedule if you play your cards right!
Apex is available to download now from iTunes and Vimeo.
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