1988 Italdesign Aztec Barchetta (more pics below 👇)
One of the more unusual propositions in late-1980s automotive design, the Aztec placed its driver and passenger in entirely separate cockpits, each with its own windscreen, canopy, and instrument cluster (the two occupants communicating via onboard intercom).
Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro to mark Italdesign’s 20th anniversary in 1988, it debuted at the Turin Motor Show alongside two companion concepts, the Asgard MPV and Aspid coupe.
The body, constructed from composite panels including aluminum, carbon fiber, and Kevlar over a steel spaceframe chassis, was finished primarily in silver on production examples. Exterior side panels housed coded control interfaces for functions including hydraulic jacks, an air compressor, and a fire extinguisher.
Mechanically, the Aztec used a turbocharged 2.2-liter Audi inline five-cylinder producing approximately 250 horsepower, paired with a five-speed manual transmission and Audi-derived all-wheel drive.
Japanese businessman Yoshiaki Miyakawa acquired the production rights and engaged Audi tuner MTM to develop the car for limited road use. German type approval was achieved, but the DM500,000 asking price limited demand, and of the approximately 20 cars planned, 18 were completed.
Giugiaro was named “Car Designer of the Century” in 1999.
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