Stola is an Italian automotive company founded in 1919.From its start it realized concept cars, prototypes and style models, master models and engineering consultancy for some of the biggest manufacturers in the automotive industry.[1]
In 2004 it was acquired by RGZ group, along with subsidiaries: Estival, Tecnocars and Stola do Brasil. By 2014 was sold to Blutec, part of the METEC group. As for 2006 it had more than 3.500 employees. Currently its activities are focused around production of limited edition exclusive cars.[2]
Cars and models
List of master models, mock-up style models, prototypes and concepts realised by Stola:[3]
2007 Fisker Tramonto (production of a small series of 17 cars)[8]
Stola S81 Stratos
Stola S81 Stratos was a concept car designed by Marcello Gandini and shown at the 2000 Turin Motor Show.[9] Its exterior design was a hommage to Gandini's original 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero exactly at the 30th anniversary of the 1970 Turin Motor Show presentation. Development began in autumn of 1999 to create a static show car. The front was meant to have a Lancia shield but with protest from Fiat management, a stylised mg logo appears in honour of the designer instead. Vivid orange paint colour chosen mirrored that of a prototype Stratos HF. "S81" in its name commemorates the 81st anniversary of the company founding by Alfred Stola. From 2009 concept resides in the Lopresto automobile collection, where in 2014 it received an electric motor.[10]
Stola S82 Spyder
In 2001, at the Milan Motor Show, Stola presented a prototype model S82 Spyder built on the Porsche Boxster (986) basis.[11] Exterior was designed by Aldo Brovarone.[12]
Stola S85 Thesis Limousine
During the engineering consultancy work done for the Thesis model in 2000, Stola proposed a stretched limousine version, similar to the previous Thema and Kappa.Fiat Group CEO Paolo Cantarella agreed to the project but under the supervision of Giancarlo Concilio of Centro Stile Lancia and engineer Nevio Di Giusto.[13]Initially Stola planned to showcase the blue-gray painted prototype at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show but at the last minute Fiat management decided to postpone the presentation.Although the show car was ready earlier and would be named as "S82" it was ultimately presented at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show repainted in burgundy bi-colour and renamed as the "Stola S85" to celebrate the Stola company's 85 years.[14][13]
The car is equipped with a beige leather interior and electrically adjustable rear seats. The car has also a minibar with refrigerator, multimedia system with GPS navigation system, internet access, fax machine and a DVD player.[15]
Stola S86 Diamante
Stola S86 diamante is a concept car designed by Marcello Gandini and presented at the 75th Geneva Motor Show in 2005.It is a static model of a coupé, created in just 5 weeks to demonstrate Stola's ability and speed in development and construction of automotive prototypes in a "tailor-made engineering" perspective.[17]
The name is also a reference to the company's 86 years of activity.
Stola Phalcon
At the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, Stola introduced the Phalcon, a 2-door coupe with a similar design as the Maybach Exelero that Stola had in 2004.[18] The car was presented with a Mercedes-Benz V12 and a one piece windshield extending all the way to the back of the car.The plan was to produce 25 units.[19]
With 230 PS and all these extra features the converted car weighs 2030 kg and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds, with a top speed of 230 km/h.[16]
In 2002 Fiat ordered another stretched limousine for President of the Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and further two examples which would ultimately be cancelled.
Presidential limousine would receive an armour plating by specialist shop Repetti and be delivered in 2003.[13]
