The sixth edition of the Lugano Elegance beauty contest ended on Saturday evening, May 23, 2026, in Piazza Riforma in Lugano, bringing three wonderful days of events to a close. In exceptional weather conditions, some of the world's most important automobiles were on display on Lake Lugano.
The 2026 edition once again covered over a century of automotive history and presented vehicles from the years 1911 to 2025 in five classes, judged by an international panel of six experts and young observers from the CPT Biasca.
The evaluation included the criteria: Originality, condition, historical significance and aesthetic harmony. Young observers from the CPT Biasca accompanied the jury and supported the judges throughout the evaluation process. Their participation reflects the event's commitment to education and the local community.
Best of Show ATS 2500 GTS
The 1964 ATS 2500 GTS was awarded the "Best of Show" award on stage. As a rare and historically significant Gran Turismo from the short-lived ATS brand, the vehicle impressed with the purity of its lines and its exceptional state of preservation. The jury's decision was unanimous.
The ATS 2500 GTS represents one of the most fascinating chapters in Italian automotive history: a project born of pure ambition, realized with extraordinary technical ambition and ending with a vanishingly small number of units. Its award as Best of Show at Lugano Elegance underlines the event's desire to recognize automotive significance as much as beauty.
The small company ATS was founded in Bologna in 1962. Various dissatisfied managers and engineers, including Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarrini, left Ferrari in 1961 and turned against Enzo Ferrari. The 2500 GTS, whose aluminum body was designed by Franco Scaglione, was one of the first ever mid-engined road cars and reached a top speed of almost 257 km/h.
In total, only twelve vehicles were completed before the company had to file for bankruptcy. Chassis 2008 is the racing version with an aluminum body, one of only two built. It was restored over two years in Connecticut and presented at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 2024.
IONNYK Most Photogenic Award for Squire 1½ Litre Corsica
The IONNYK Most Photogenic Award was presented to the 1937 Squire 1½ Litre Corsica. An exceptionally rare example of pre-war British coachbuilding, the Squire is one of the most sought-after cars of the inter-war period - built in very small numbers by a marque whose ambitions always exceeded commercial possibilities. IONNYK, partner of the Lugano Elegance 2026, presented the award to the most photogenic vehicle of the entire field of participants.
Adrian Squire founded the eponymous company at the young age of 21 with the aim of building the best small sports car in the world. The result was extraordinary: a supercharged 1.5-liter Anzani twin-cam engine, hydraulic brakes of unprecedented size and a chassis that was more expensive than a contemporary Bentley.
Only nine vehicles were completed before the company failed in 1936 and had to file for bankruptcy. The remaining chassis were sold and bodied by independent coachbuilders, including Corsica from London.
The 1937 example shown here with the Corsica body is one of the rarest sports cars of the pre-war period.
Honorary vehicle KRIT Racer
The vehicle of honor, presented by PKB Private Bank as the main partner, was the KRIT Racer from 1911. As one of the earliest vehicles in the historical spectrum of the event, the KRIT Racer embodies the brass age of the automobile in its most elementary form: mechanical ingenuity, competitive spirit and an openness to the road that was far ahead of the closed automobile.
KRIT of Detroit built only a few hundred vehicles between 1909 and 1914, and this is the only race car they ever produced. The original four-cylinder was later replaced by a 10-liter Curtiss OXX-6 aircraft V8 engine from 1916, which with its 100 hp could accelerate the car to over 160 km/h.
In 2005, it was brought to the UK from America in a pitiful condition and spent 18 years being restored. Today, it regularly takes part in races on British racetracks, including Goodwood.
Class winners
- Class 1 Pre-war: Rolls Royce Phantom ll 1930
- Class 2 post-war 1945-1960: Ferrari 212 1952
- Class 3 Post-war ll 1961-1979: ATS 2500 GTS 1964
- Class 4 Youngtimer 1980-2000: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow ll 1979
- Class 5 Rarissima: Alfa Romeo 8C Doppiacoda Zagato 2025
