An Italdesign sports car inspired by a spaceship

For a moment we go back to the late 1980s, at that time the Italian famous coachbuilder named Italdesign launched a sports car model named Italdesign Aztec. This unique stylish sports car designed by the renowned automotive designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro and introduced for the first time at the Turin Motor Show 1988, the sports car was deliberately created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of those famous Italian automotive design house. 

The Italdesign Aztec designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and introduced for the first time at the Turin Motor Show 1988 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the famous Italian coachbuilder. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)

Unlike sports cars in general, where the Aztec is equipped with two unique seats because the driver and passenger are placed separately, thus both need to communicate electronically. Uniquely, this sports car combines the speedster body style with a partially removable protective part in the arrangement of the gullwing-styled doors.

The Italdesign Aztec is equipped with two unique seats because the driver and passenger are placed separately, thus both need to communicate electronically. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)

As a source of energy, Italdesign Aztec is equipped with an Audi turbocharged engine mated to a 4-wheel-drive system that comes from the Lancia Delta HF Integrale. The Audi's 2,226 cc five-cylinder DOHC engine is capable of producing power of around 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp), that's a bit less than its '250 HP' badge on the wing.

The Italdesign Aztec is powered by an Audi 2,226 cc five-cylinder DOHC turbocharged engine mated to a 4-wheel-drive system that comes from the Lancia Delta HF Integrale. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)

The Aztec has a very futuristic style gesture with many future features. The car has control panels on both sides of the aluminum body panel on the back. After entering certain codes into the panel, information, and about the performance status of the car along with certain functions can be accessed via voice (for example to open its pop-up headlights, hydraulic jack, fire extinguisher, to a compressor to inflate the tires).

The Italdesign Aztec combines the speedster body style with a partially removable protective part in the arrangement of the gullwing-styled doors. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)

Then in the cabin, Italdesign Aztec interior is wrapped in luxurious genuine leather with a group of separate instruments for passengers shaped like a steering wheel, which displays important information about the car and contains damper controls as well as communication tools along with time controls.

The Italdesign Aztec has a very futuristic style gesture with many future features including some of them can be accessed via voice. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)

Amazingly, it turns out that this sports car has applied a satellite navigation system equipment located in the middle of the dashboard (positioned more towards the driver). Indeed, the design is clearly seen that the sports car was inspired by space technology that was being rife in the time, while the glass on the wings inspired by LeMans races that highlight the motorsport aspect. 

Besides that, the sports car also has an adequate luggage compartment, while the carbon fiber rear wing is optimized for downforce and there is also the roll-bar installed for driver and passenger safety.

The Italdesign Aztec's big-sized rear wing is optimized for downforce and also the roll-bar for driver and passenger safety. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)

According to some sources, there were only 18 units of the Italdesign Aztec have been built, of which the original planned production was 50 units (although some sources state the total production as "less than 25 units").

And in 1990, one of these sports cars had also appeared in one of the scenes of the horror-science fiction movie titled 'Frankenstein Unbound,' as a computer-controlled futuristic car owned by the film's protagonist, Dr. Joe Buchanan. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ]

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