Italdesign Aztec Concept Car (1988): An Unusual Interior with Two Steering Wheels

The interior of the Italdesign Aztec concept car was a bold and unconventional experiment in automotive design, ahead of its time. The split cockpit and two steering wheels were less about functionality and more about the idea — to demonstrate a new kind of interaction between human and machine.

Jun 23, 2025 - 15:10
Italdesign Aztec Concept Car (1988): An Unusual Interior with Two Steering Wheels
Images are taken from the official website of Italdesign-Giugiaro.

One of the Most Eccentric Concept Cars of the Late 1980s — Italdesign Aztec — Captures Attention Again with Its Futuristic Interior

The Italdesign Aztec, one of the most eccentric concept cars of the late 1980s, has once again attracted the attention of car enthusiasts thanks to its futuristic interior. Presented at the 1988 Turin Auto Show, the vehicle was created as a tribute to the 20th anniversary of the Italdesign studio.

Key interior features:

  • Two separate cockpits — one for the driver, one for the passenger

  • Two steering wheels: the left for driving, the right as auxiliary

  • The passenger controlled multimedia and navigation systems

  • A central display showed technical and navigation data

This architectural concept emphasized the interaction between the driver and the “co-pilot”, inspired by aircraft cockpits.

Although the Aztec remained a concept, its design is still discussed today as an example of avant-garde thinking and human-machine interface experimentation.