Just a few days ago a beautiful 1964 ATS 2500 GTS took home the prestigious “Rolex – Best of Show – The Quail” during the famous Monterey Classic Car Week in California, the annual series of events that culminates with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The fifty year old ATS GTS, owned by American collector Bruce Milner, overshadowed the other 235 cars, validating the quality and beauty of a true Italian Gran Turismo of the sixties.
What best way to relaunch the ATS brand?
As a matter of fact ATS is back on the automotive scene to astonish once more, 53 years later with an exclusive beautiful GT that has been unveiled on August 31 at Salon Privé, the most prestigious event in London dedicated to the cars of yesterday and today.
The ATS GT supercar, the first product of the “new” ATS brand, a true manufacturer that is developing and building its cars in the outskirts of Torino thanks to the passion of entrepreneur Daniele Maritan and designer Emanuele Bomboi.
Pushed by a powerful V8 bi-turbo (available with 650 and 700 hp) paired with a 7-speed transmission and built with abundant use of composite materials, the ATS GT carries some state of the art technological solutions. The V8 pushes the car from 0 to 60mph in 3 seconds allowing for a maximum speed of more than 206mph.
The three driving modes, Viaggio, Sport and Corsa, significantly change the dynamic behavior of the car, transforming its nature and the feel the driver receives.
Each mode acts on the suspension’s set-up, on the gearshift speed and on the engine’s power output, to lift the car to its maximum performance levels.
But the new ATS GT is turning heads also, if not above all, for its enticing aesthetics and beautiful design, for the proportion of its volume and the elegant lines, modern but at the same time tied to the tradition of the great Gran Turismo cars of the sixties, a generation of vehicles that permanently marked the history of automotive design.
The new ATS GT
The side silhouette of this new Gran Turismo is charged with energy, with clean lines framing arched surfaces. The outlines above the wheel are evocative while a clean flowing line divides the car’s upper and lower halves. As with the original car’s design, the windows provide a focus for the flanks of the car. Uniquely, the door handles are practically … non existent. In fact the vehicle is equipped with touchless sensors hidden underneath the small fin bearing the ATS logo.
The front spoiler follows the form of the classical ATS 2500 GTS of the sixties, crossing the whole width of the car with the same blue Dragon of Bologna logo (today crafted using state of the art OLED technology) at its centre as the 1963 car unveiled at the Geneva motor show. Similarly distinctive are the two stripes running along the bonnet and the two lateral air intakes with full-LED lighting above them.
The rear of the car is windowless like a true race car, blending in gracefully with aerodynamically efficient cut-off tail, while the integrated rear spoiler is ‘active’; it rises at high speeds to create downforce and can generate effective drag to help the car brake in the shortest distance.
The Three Driving Modes
The three modes, Viaggio, Sport and Corsa or Tour, Sport and Race, significantly change the dynamic behavior of the car, transforming its nature and the feel the driver receives.
Each mode acts on the suspension’s set-up, on the gearshift speed and on the engine’s power output, to lift the car to its maximum performance levels.
“Viaggio” is distinguished by a relaxing light blue ambient colour on the controls in the cockpit. While in this configuration, the GT has a smooth and gentle behavior, closer to a normal Gran Turismo than a supercar, allowing the owner to undertake long journeys but also relax in city traffic
in “Sport” mode the cockpit colours switch to yellow, in harmony with the more focused character of the vehicle. G-Force information and the temperature/pressure of the tyres appear at the center of the instrument panel, allowing the driver feedback on the car’s performance while keeping his eyes on the road
if we choose the “Corsa” configuration the interior becomes red … what did you expect? Here you enter in a new dimension and a brand new relationship with the vehicle: the main screen now shows Formula 1 style instruments and the technical information takes centre stage, clear and immediate, in order to support the driver while on a racing circuit. The engine sound also changes to become more deep and powerful
Engine and Performance: a Powerful V8
The bi-turbo engine of this supercar unleashes 478 KW / 650 bhp at 7,250 rpm or 515 KW / 700 bhp with an optional upgrade. Maximum torque is 678 Nm which can become 750 Nm at 7,250 rpm when choosing the optional upgrade.
Like a racing engine the drivetrain is equipped with dry-sump lubrication, while the trade mark roar of a V8 engine is even louder thanks to a special and beautiful exhaust system!
The ATS GT is the first ever car to be equipped with a patented silencer system.
The car’s performances allow the ATS GT to be one of the best supercars on the market: the V8 pushes the car from 0 to 60mph in 3 seconds allowing for a maximum speed of more than 206mph.
Stability and Dynamism
The 7 speed transmission is state of the art and allows for slick gear shifts while management of the clutch is integrated in the system that allows the driver to choose between Viaggio, Sport and Corsa modes.
A reliable mechanical differential is standard and, despite the significant power of the engine, the Launch Control system guarantees lightning starts without wheel spin.
Even the chassis with its diagonal double wishbones reveals the supercar DNA of the car.
Further, the new ATS is equipped with an ESP system, for the electronic correction of stability, and electronically adjusted shock absorbers.
The powerful braking is ensured by generously sized carbo-ceramic discs, assisted by the latest generation ABS system.
The Composite Structure of the Chassis
As a true supercar the ATS GT uses composite materials and special alloys. In fact, carbon fibre is extensively used in the bodywork, in the interiors and chassis, leading to a combination of light weight and great strength.
For its part the attention to detail and quality of construction are top notch and allow for an optimal ratio between weight, size and strength. The end result yields great figures such as the dry weight of just 1,300 kg.
