Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Italdesign Aztec - The past of the future

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on November 17, 2023

Text:

Paul Krüger

Photos:

Bonhams

44

Volkswagen / Autostadt

10

Italdesign

2

Bonhams

44

Volkswagen / Autostadt

10

Italdesign

2

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - one of the few cars with more doors than seats

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - a spaceship poorly disguised as an automobile

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - symmetrical right up to the steering wheel and its equivalent in the passenger's grab handle

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - study by Giorgio Giugiaro built in small series

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Rarity: only very few of the 18 Aztecs built had a red interior

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - looks almost normal from the front

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - wide, low rear. The light strip comes from the Alfa Romeo 164

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - low-flying: the Aztec is just 118 cm high

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - jagged side panel in an otherwise quite harmonious shape

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - The paint color is appropriately named "Space-Age Silver"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - double opening upwards and to the side

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - From this perspective, it could also be a normal sports car of its time

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - The folding headlights don't quite dare to leave their caves

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - lettering on the reflector strip at the rear

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - The input functions are different on the right and left

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - The code commands on the right-hand side. The automatic oil change is interesting

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - signed by Giorgio Giugiaro

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Original: brake lights at the base of the rear wing

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - The carbon fiber rear wing is the most motorsporty detail on the Aztec

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - The multi-piece Canonica wheels look like they were made in the seventies, but are original equipment

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - A small plaque refers to the form creator

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - the Audi five-cylinder exhales through four oval tailpipes

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Additional headlights concealed in the exterior mirrors

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - In contrast to the study with windshield wipers

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Useful roll bars and imitation air vents

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Suitable for travel: the Aztec holds almost 300 liters in two trunks

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - tightly cut cockpit

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - organically shaped, asymmetrical steering wheel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Unusual: Analog instruments instead of digital displays in a future study of the eighties

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Control satellites and control display in the instrument panel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - lavishly upholstered, comfortable seats

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Looks like half a steering wheel, but is just a lush grab handle

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Gimmick for the co-driver: Halda Rally Computer

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Volume control for the "intercom system"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Loudspeaker ... pardon, "dome twitterer" in the door

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Control panel for the heating and electric seats

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - The modern Audi MMI is retrofitted

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Shift lever for the five-speed gearbox

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Door panel with window, air vent and two opening levers

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - Air filter and fuel tank behind the driver

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - The transverse-mounted Audi five-cylinder engine was boosted to 250 hp in the Aztec

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1990) - The transverse-mounted Audi five-cylinder engine was boosted to 250 hp in the Aztec

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1988) - a sketch by Giugiaro

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1988) - Aspid, Asgard and Aztec together - all by Giugiaro

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1988) - Flaps open

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1988) - clean separation between driver and passenger

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1988) - futuristic end of the eighties

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1988) - breathtaking

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1988) - imposing rear view

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1988) - there is also something for the passenger to do

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1988) - an exhibition piece in the truest sense of the word

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aspid (1988) - the closed version of the Aztec

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Aspid Asgard and Aztec (1988)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Italdesign Aztec (1988) - in summer 1989 during the shooting of the film "Frankenstein Unbound" with Bridget Fonda

You have only

1 out of 56

images seen in high resolution

Summary

Once unimaginable visions of the future usually look rather outdated a short time later. The Italdesign Aztec, on the other hand, still looks like science fiction even 35 years after its debut. This article presents the ready-to-drive concept study, which has even gone into small series production.

This article contains the following chapters

Right-center engine
Dangerous for accidents
Fair-weather car
Small series production

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Nobody knows what the future holds. But that has never stopped car designers from putting their personal vision of the car of the future on paper or on wheels. The approach has always been different: sometimes emphatically streamlined, sometimes radically space-saving, sometimes almost obsessively different. Only one thing was certain: speed meant progress. The sports car of the future had to be faster and faster. Giorgio Giugiaro, on the other hand, took a slightly different approach with the Italdesign Aztec: "The era of speeding sports cars with nothing left but performance should be a thing of the past. I advocate a car that is less powerful, less fast, less dangerous, but with a dramatic look." He fully lived up to this claim. Because with 250 hp, the Aztec couldn't keep up with any four-door Alpina or AMG for long back in 1988. But even 35 years later, it still looks like a credible vision of the future.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: