Italian Super Cars in Video Game History
Explore the most iconic Italian dream cars featured in top video games, from Ferraris to Lamborghinis. See how gaming brought them to life.
The Italdesign Aztec concept car by Italdesign.
The Italdesign Aztec is the first prototype of the trio formed together with the Aspid and Asgard to celebrate 20 years of Italdesign. The Italdesign Aztec is a sports car introduced by Giugiaro at the 1988 Turin Motor Show, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of his company. The two-seater is unique because the driver and passenger are separated, requiring the two parties to communicate electronically. It incorporates a speedster body style with partial visor sections which are removable and open in a gull-wing arrangement. It was fitted with a turbocharged Audi engine, and uses a four-wheel-drive system derived from the Lancia Delta HF Integrale. Only 18 of 50 cars were ever built, with production outsourced to Carrozzeria Savio. The Aztec’s Audi-sourced five-cylinder DOHC engine produces 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp), although the car carried a prominent “250 HP” badge on the flank. Many cars were indeed fitted with boosted engines producing closer to that number. The car incorporated futuristic styling cues with many features ahead of its time. The car had control panels on both sides of the car at the aluminium body panels at the rear and upon entering certain codes into the panel, information and about the car’s performance status along with certain functions of the car (i.e., an extra set of lights, hydraulic jack, removable screw driver, a fire extinguisher, a compressor for inflating tires and a flashlight) could be accessed via a voice message. Inside of the car, the car was wrapped in a leather interior and there was a separate instrument cluster for the passenger shaped like a steering wheel displaying vital information about the car and containing damper controls and communication controls along with engine timing controls. The car also incorporated a satellite navigation system located in the centre of the dashboard (positioned more towards the driver). The design of the Aztec is inspired by the space technology rather than the organic technologies used in that era while the LeMans inspired wing mirrors gave a nod to the aspects of motorsport. The car incorporated an adequate luggage compartment in order to carry the normal luggage of the occupants while being true to its futuristic theme. A carbon fibre rear wing optimised for downforce and roll-bars for safety of the occupants were also installed. Price at the time was DM 500.000.
Explore the most iconic Italian dream cars featured in top video games, from Ferraris to Lamborghinis. See how gaming brought them to life.
If you’ve ever driven a Volkswagen Golf or drooled over a Lotus Esprit, you have Giorgetto Giugiaro to thank. This Italian design wizard has penned everything from everyday hatchbacks to exotic movie star cars – all in a career spanning more than 60 years. Born into an artistic family in rural Italy, Giugiaro went from sketching cars as a teen to being crowned Car Designer of the Century in 1999. Along the way, he even dabbled in designing cameras, firearms, and yes, a new shape of pasta (because why not?). Buckle up for a ride through Giugiaro’s life and work – a chronological tour of the man who styled the cars we drive and the ones we dream about.
Carrozzerai Savio quickly gained recognition in the burgeoning automotive industry. One of their early notable creations was a custom sedan with silent block technology for the now-defunct Fabbrica Automobili Giovanni Ceirano. This innovation was followed by collaborations with prominent Italian manufacturers, including Lancia, Alfa Romeo, OM, Isotta Fraschini, Ansaldo, and Fiat. The partnership with Fiat, which began in these formative years, would become a cornerstone of Savio’s legacy.
The Bugatti ID 90 stands as a testament to the visionary work of Giorgetto Giugiaro. Unveiled at the 63rd International Car Show in Turin, this concept car was more than just a futuristic representation; it was a bold exploration of form and function, drawing inspiration from the technical drawings of Bugatti mechanics published in the late 1980s.
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