Apollo readying pure-electric luxury sedan

German sports car brand Apollo Automobil has pulled the drapes off an all-new battery-electric super-luxury sedan that will challenge the likes of the Mercedes-Benz EQS when it goes on sale in 2023.

Apollo, which rose from the ashes of Germany's Gumpert, is well known for its wild V12-powered hypercars like the 575kW Apollo Intensa Emozione.

But the EVision S concept unveiled at the 2021 China International Import Expo heralds a "progressive showcase of Apollo Automobil's vision for the future of electric mobility", according to the car-maker.

Measuring in at five metres long and more than two metres wide, the EVision S features a low-slung coupe silhouette with striking styling that wouldn't look out of place on a supercar.

At the rear there's a full-width light bar and smooth surfacing to maximise range.

The four-door supercar look is rumoured to carry over directly to the production model.

Set to be engineered and developed at the car-maker's R&D centres in both Germany and China, full technical details of the new EV have yet to be revealed, but it's thought the EVision S boasts an 800-volt architecture and comes equipped with trick silicon-carbide dual inverters.

The advanced powertrain is also understood to incorporate axial flux motors that have a higher power density and produce around 30-40 per cent more torque than traditional radial motors, with better cooling to boot.

As well as powering the EVision S and future Apollo EVs, the German brand says it will offer its all-new batteries and electric motors to other car-makers.

Once introduced, Apollo says it will follow up its first electric car with another battery-electric model called the EVision X that is said to be a luxury SUV to challenge the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.

The big battery-electric SUV is also scheduled to reach the market by 2023.

Helping fund the development of its new EVs, Apollo says it has already invested RMB 3 billion ($A640m) in the EVision S and will splash out RMB 2 billion ($A420m) on a new Chinese-based manufacturing base in partnership with Shanghai Jinqiao Export Process Zone Development Company.

It's thought manufacturing of its low-volume hypercars will continue in Germany.

Speaking of which, despite committing to a zero-emissions future, Apollo used the Shanghai-based car show to release a replacement for the Intensa Emozione that is called the Project Evo.

Based on a full carbon-fibre monocoque developed for LMP2 racing, it's thought the Project Evo will keep the Intensa Emozione's naturally-aspirated 6.3-litre V12 rather than switch to battery power.

Details have not been released, but expect it to produce even more than the previous car's 575kW/760Nm and for it to sprint from 0-100km/h in around 2.5 seconds and top out at more than 350km/h.