Italdesign Aztec

The Italdesign Aztec is a striking automotive oddity, a bold statement of late-'80s futurism penned by none other than Giorgetto Giugiaro himself. Unveiled at the 1988 Turin Motor Show, the Aztec was Italdesign's audacious vision of what a supercar could be—twin cockpits, fighter-jet inspired canopies, and a design that screamed sci-fi more than street-legal. Frankly, it was as if someone handed Giugiaro a blank check and said, "Go wild," and he took that instruction very literally.

Beneath its flamboyant skin, the Aztec packed a turbocharged Audi-sourced 2.2-liter inline-five, good for around 250 horsepower—respectable numbers for its era, but hardly groundbreaking. Yet, the Aztec wasn't about sheer numbers; it was about the experience. Its dual-cockpit layout separated driver and passenger into individual glass bubbles, each with their own controls and instruments, making every drive feel like a mission rather than a mundane commute.

Technologically, the Aztec was ahead of its time, featuring four-wheel drive, rear-wheel steering, and even an onboard computer system that monitored everything from tire pressure to brake wear—features that wouldn't become commonplace until decades later. Yet, despite its innovation and Giugiaro's legendary status, only a handful were ever made—around 18 units—making it a rare beast indeed. Today, the Aztec stands as a fascinating footnote in automotive history, a testament to the boundless creativity and occasional madness of automotive design.