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Travel: This Is The Modern Italian Roadster Of Your Dreams

This Is The Modern Italian Roadster Of Your Dreams

By Jacopo Villa
October 14, 2015
17 comments

Photography by Rosario Liberti

I had an opportunity to visit the ATS factory and also to be invited for a test drive of the Stile50, a lightweight, sleek, and bright red speedster that will be the first road-going car under the ATS name in more than 50 years, and let me tell you: it’s a classic in every way.

It’s lightweight, with a small turbocharged engine from the Opel Corsa OPC, and enough attitude to make you smile. Daniele Maritan, the owner of the ATS brand, told me that the idea behind the Stile50 is, “to build something like a typical British sports car, but with more care and overall quality. I do not like to have my cars constantly under repairs”.

So what we have here is a modern vintage car: a hand-welded chrome molybdenum chassis, reinforced with aluminum plates, fiberglass bodywork, and a five-speed manual transmission. And it’s fast, too, at just 1,433 lbs (650 kg), with around 200 horsepower to control with its wooden Nardi steering wheel. A limited-slip differential and side pipe exhaust complete the throwback to 1964.

Driving the Stile50 on a fast, curvy road is a delight: the engine is wonderful and has enough torque to pull the car in any gear, at nearly any rpm. There aren’t any electronic aids onboard, and the car feels real: you feel everything through wheel, and the wind in your hair tends to create a more engaging experience.

It’s more of an ultimate Mazda MX-5 Miata than track day special, and was tuned to be a simple and practical sunny-day car. The only thing not a throwback is its price; at €58,000 (~$65,000 Usd.), you’re definitely paying for its handbuilt nature, a relatively rare quality these days. Still, it’s not out of reach, as Daniele puts it: “You do not have to win the lottery to have one”.

Thanks to Daniele Maritan, Matteo Marchiorato, and the staff at ATS Automobili and Roberto Cupia for allowing us to shoot the car in the “Villa Voli Biscaretti di Suno”. 

Tags ATS/ Italian/ Stile 50
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Daimler Ben
Daimler Ben
4 years ago

What about the cars in the other room?

1
Jacopo Villa
Author
Jacopo Villa
8 years ago

guys, it is no kit car and a Miata doesn’t even come close. This one is a pure sports car, the sort that everyone wants now. It’s got a manual, no controls and it is a handmade in Italy. Isn’t what everybody wants now?

Let me reming you that It’s a prototype: it is in constant development, it is not finished yet. Petrolicious was one of the first to give you a test drive of the car.

ATS has got a huge potential: they know how to make their cars. We’ll bring more of it for sure.

Best to y’all,

J

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Christopher Gay
Christopher Gay
8 years ago
Reply to  Jacopo Villa

As a designer and fabricator, I can respect the development, time, money, and energy that goes into a project like this. I can readily look past the headlamps, the (currently) non-working instruments, and other minor (in my opinion) details. At first sight, I do really like the lines and general approach to the car.

Upon inspection of the photographs, there are MANY choices that I would make differently. That’s not really here nor there, though. Actually, I gain more insight on their approach by looking at the two photos of the sports racer that are shown. Again, having been intimately involve in the development of those classes of cars for many years, I have a completely different approach. And again, this is neither here nor there.

So, rather than being critical of all things I don’t agree with, I will commend the builders for actually putting this thing together… right, wrong, or indifferent… a feat which is no small task.

I’m sure this thing is a hoot to drive. And with proper development, would be even better.

Thanks for sharing.

1
Frank Anigbo
Frank Anigbo
8 years ago
Reply to  Jacopo Villa

It might have been a good idea to stress in the article that this was a raw, development car with many experimental bits given the obvious misalignment of the headlights and gauges that do not work. As presented, it reminded me of one of my favorite books, ‘Every Little Crook & Nanny’ in which an inept forger was caught because his otherwise impressively faked money had the portrait on it with crossed eyes.

0
M Webb
M Webb
8 years ago

I love this. With a higher “touring ” type windshield and a top I could see it in my garage nest to my Miata 10th anniversary edition. Really the only question is Italian red or BRG.

0
Rob Jackson
Rob Jackson
8 years ago

Am I seeing modified Ginetta in this thing? The style is not very Italian. With such an amazing gene pool of “etceterini” to take influence from and make reference to, I’m suprised by the way this thing looks. Or maybe I’m not. Take a slightly obscure brand, design a car. Build it well and get a nice Young chap with a well trimmed beard to drive it to some revival meet or other where well heeled chaps with similar beards congregate.. who cares about history, this is heritage! I’ll stick to my Alfa..

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Todd Cox
Todd Cox
8 years ago

NA Miata with an Italia body kit, right?

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Pieter Ameye
Pieter Ameye
8 years ago

Far from convinced. I’ll stick to my Elise S1 thank you very much.

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Paul Thompson
Paul Thompson
8 years ago

It looks like someone has reused the moulds for the Ginetta G20.

This ATS 2500 GT 3.0 Coupe has been doing the rounds in the UK, it’s a fine looking thing.

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JB21
JB21
8 years ago

And in the end, Miata is just better. Right? Right.

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Wayne Mattson
Wayne Mattson
8 years ago

I like how the speedo and fuel gauge don’t work (last pic.).

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Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
8 years ago

” Hold On Sloopy ” !

1) In the last feature ATS was quoted as saying they had created the ultimate ‘ British ‘ roadster in Italy … and now its suddenly ‘ Italian ‘ ?
2) The design while not bad is in fact much more British than Italian with more than a hint of ‘ Kit Car ‘ to it and overall a bit of a mish mosh pastiche with nary a distinguishing feature to be found
3) Unfortunately this will most likely wind up being yet another failed attempt to revive the barely known and little appreciated [ because they never did accomplish anything of note ] ATS brand .. due in no small part to the fact that the car has such a blatantly limited appeal in it current guise .. not to mention the projected price and the competition it faces in that price range

Conclusion ? Another poorly thought out Vanity project destined to be relegated to the annals of history .

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Jarrod H
Jarrod H
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

Man, I find almost nothing of note within most of your numerous posts.

1. Many British roadsters were, in fact, penned by Italians. Whether it be the numerous Michelotti designs to Pininfarina. To say it reminds of an Italian and British car is a very easy, and acceptable, thing to do.
2. See number 1. To call it a kit car is not necessarily an insult as many of the marques of British and Italian origin begun that way. To say that it lacks distinguishing features is not exactly accurate. You can see many touches from Ferrari, Ginetta, Triumph, and Healey, just to name a few. All of those things are not bad at all. A truly original design, devoid of any touches from previous cars is nearly impossible these days. If anything, they should be given credit creating a coherent (with the exception of the headlamps) and true to form design. Their goal was to create a car that hearkens back to the early, stripped and simple days of the sports car and they seem to have done it. Personally, I would rather a Ginetta but this is not a bad offering at all. Some serious thought and engineering went into this chassis. Armchair commentary is hilarious.
3. Limited appeal? How so? Do you have marketing data to affirm this assertion? I have never heard of ATS until today but this caused me to do some research. This does not seem too far off from the offerings in the 60s. Their modern day GT has the same air about it as the original ATS GT. From their offerings, this does not strike me as a vanity project. This strikes me as another small manufacturer building things that appeal to a small segment of people while keeping the idea of heritage in mind. Much like Ariel, Bristol, Caterham, etc… do now. ALL cars have a limited appeal but that does not mean they are failures. How much do you expect to pay for a hand built car? This price seems about right.

This post, along with yours, will disappear into the “annals of history” LONG before the reboot of this car company does. The irony of you declaring something being done out of vanity is strong.

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Jacopo Villa
Author
Jacopo Villa
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

This story is much complex than you think you know.

0
Jay Stamatis
Jay Stamatis
8 years ago

it’s a handmade Italian car, would you expect the headlights to be aligned? 😉

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Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
8 years ago
Reply to  Jay Stamatis

Hee hee ! The proverbial Italian Communist auto worker that hates you for the fact that you can afford one strikes again ! 😉

0
Frank Anigbo
Frank Anigbo
8 years ago

Is it a trick of light or is one headlight laying flatter than the other?

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