The 1980s was a peak era for concept cars, and design teams working to push products to their limits.
The 1988 ItalDesign Aztec Roadster actually made it to production, albeit in a tiny run of just 18 cars.
Featuring low, sleek bodywork, a twin cockpit interior, and a range of (then) cutting-edge technology, the Aztec remains a masterpiece of forward-thinking 80s design. Indeed, it’s one of the few examples of 80s cyberpunk design that ever made it to production.
With gull-wing doors, aerodynamic wheel covers, and a wild interior that encapsulated both passengers separately, it’s clear that the designers had a blast designing the Aztec. The Aztec is powered by a turbocharged five-cylinder from Audi with an all-wheel-drive system sourced from the Lancia Delta.
Incorporating satellite navigation was a wildly futuristic feature in 1988, and was an example of this car’s forward-thinking design.
One of these super rare beauties is up for auction, with less than 475 kilometers on it, currently estimated at $275,000 – $325,000.
“The car incorporated futuristic styling cues with many features ahead of its time. The car had control panels on both sides of the car at the aluminium body panels at the rear and upon entering certain codes into the panel, information and about the car’s performance status along with certain functions of the car (i.e., an extra set of lights, hydraulic jack, removable screw driver, a fire extinguisher, a compressor for inflating tires and a flashlight) could be accessed via a voice message.
Inside of the car, the car was wrapped in a leather interior and there was a separate instrument cluster for the passenger shaped like a steering wheel displaying vital information about the car and containing damper controls and communication controls along with engine timing controls.”
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