07 Mar 07
Here's a car that's completely irrelevant to the vast majority of the motoring world, but we've included it because it is, quite simply, one of the ugliest and most tasteless things we've ever had the misfortune to encounter at a motor show.
Turin-based Stola has a long and impressive history, dating back to 1919 and including the build of the Maybach Excelero one-off and the low-volume Fisker Tramonto. The company makes bespoke special-bodied cars for wealthy clients as well as prototypes for manufacturers, and it employs more than 3,500 people worldwide - but now it's planning a production car, albeit one made in a limited run of just 25 examples, that will wear the Stola badge.
This vehicle - whose name will be chosen by clients - is based on the Brabus V12 biturbo, itself a super-tuned and modified Mercedes-Benz S600. It's fitted with the Brabus-tweaked 6.3-litre engine (which makes 750bhp and 1003lb-ft of torque) and is said to be good for over 200mph. Mounted on 25" chromed AEZ wheel rims with 315/25 Pirelli P Zero tyres, it looks, well... pretty hideous, especially its hawk's-beak front grille and hooded-eye headlights. The best we can say for it is that it's certainly out of the ordinary.
Thankfully, it may not hit the road looking quite like this: Stola is inviting its clients to specify their own bespoke interiors and exterior finishes. The company is aiming to become the first haute-couture automotive brand, it says. Quick, call the fashion police.
