The automotive world is littered with cult companies that may well have become household supercar names only they hadn’t sputtered and died. Vector could have been America’s founding hypercar manufacturer if it wasn’t driven into the ground by a hostile takeover. Mosler might have been America’s answer to Lotus if their founder hadn’t walked out. Caparo Vehicle Technologies might have tyrannized the track if their only car, the T1, didn’t try to kill everyone who drove it.
They don’t always lie dormant. Some of the most renowned nameplates are comeback stories. Bugatti died twice before releasing the most spectacular automotive tour-de-force the world had ever seen. TVR is somehow still alive, despite making cars exclusively for maniacs. De Tomaso is finally back after a carnival of mismanagement. ATS is one such name, returning 50 years later to fight their old rival Ferrari.
The ATS GT is the result of painstaking craftsmanship, and it shows.
Almost A Ten
The styling is a masterclass on how to undermine a great design with one uninspiring design decision. Its profile is magnificent, classic even. It’s got the kind of gentle contours that usually fall by the wayside in today’s post-2015 everything-is-a-stealth-jet-from-space design language. The rear is equally pretty, fairly reserved with just enough twists to keep you interested. The front is unassuming, conventional even.
But then you get to the headlights. They’re not seriously hideous unlike some cars we could Stutz Blackhawk - sorry, mention - they’re just painfully boring. The geometric shape is a failed attempt at simplicity that a quick glance at any of the new Lotuses would have rectified. Still, the GT is a solid 8.5 at least.
Fulfilling the Hype
The Robb Report offered up a hilariously pretentious explanation of why the ATS GT is special, centering on the storied history of the company. ATS’ absolutely beautiful 2500 GT (shown above) was arguably the first mid-engined road car, and ATS itself was founded by engineers who left Ferrari in a mass exodus in 1961. Frankly, though, the ATS could be made on the moon by Atlantean engineers via telekinesis and it wouldn’t matter if the car itself ended up as dull as a grey Saturn being driven by a mathematician through northern Albuquerque at an even 35 mph listening to NPR's All Things Considered.
Luckily it isn’t. After a half-century lying dormant, ATS' return delivered. The GT is based on the proven (and warrantied!) McLaren 650S platform and engine. The twin-turbo V8 makes extra power here; 650 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. With a seven-speed semi-automatic transmission, this makes it good for 0-60 in 3 seconds and over 200 mph. Those are exactly the kind of numbers that suggest the car is ultimately meant for more than just straight-line performance.
A Grand Tourer Indeed
Like its competitors, the ATS GT offers launch control as well as three drive modes: Tour, Sport, and Race. The exhaust has three mufflers but can bypass them under quicker driving if you want more racket. As an added exterior touch, the ATS emblem on the front lights up in a brilliant shade of turquoise.
The interior is a very comfortable and distinctive place that stands out for its relatively understated design. It doesn’t go nuts with billet gauges or quilted camel leather or carbon fiber everything, though they couldn’t quite resist a partially exposed gear lever. Instead, it’s a gentle pastel suede trim of the sort you’d expect in a furniture showroom catering to double-income-no-kids couples.
ATS specifically altered the GT to be more comfortable on longer journeys, so the seats are nicer and the soundproofing is improved over the 650S. It also uses its acoustically-designed cockpit to enhance its “bespoke planar magnetic sound system” which Motor Authority notes is called “Prima Orkhestra”. The infotainment system is simplified and made more minimalist in design.
The Classiest Burglary You’ll Ever Own
Amazingly, the GT ended up cheaper than its projected price – which is stunning since its end price was $850,000. In 2017 they were asking buyers to fork over a ludicrous $1.3 million. For reference, that would have been nearly quadruple the price of the 650S it’s based on, and squarely in the territory of the vastly more impressive Bugatti Veyron. Like many extreme-exclusive cars, the ATS GT allows significant user customization – which can crank the price up even more – and that’s just the base model. The Launch Edition came with 730 hp (and the ability to get your signature engraved on the steering wheel), and the Corsa Edition boasted 830.
What’s it like to drive? We have no idea. Neither does the automotive journalism establishment writ large. Maybe ask a Forza Horizon 4 player. Yes, it’s based on the 650S, but only tells us so much. It’s about 400 lbs lighter with more horsepower, but from the looks of it, the car won’t produce as much downforce, especially owing to the absence of the 650S’ wing. So, beware of wheelspin under hard acceleration and careful with high speeds on bumpy roads then…for all 12 of you GT owners out there.
Sources: Auto Evolution, Auto Express, CarThrottle, Evo Magazine, Motor1, Motor Authority, Robb Report, Top Gear