Oh, my steering wheel!

It would seem that what the subject of automobile interior is more functional than the wheel? It should be beautiful and comfortable - so that the driver was safe and comfortable ride. But designers of his view of things. We recall the eleven most bizarre car steering wheels of all time.

Maserati Boomerang

1971

The concept car Maserati Boomerang, created by Giorgetto Giugiaro in 1971, looked very cool: he was a wedge-shaped body in the latest fashion, glass inserts in the doors and on the roof, plus the eccentric wheel. But all this can be forgotten, it had only to look into the salon.

Chetyrehspitsevy "bagel" Maserati Boomerang was fixed hub, both the Citroen C4 of the previous generation of machines. Only it was not the airbag and volume control buttons "music" and ensemble of five instruments, control lamps heap, levers and switches.

In the first prototype in 1971, it looked not at all functional. But a year later, to the Geneva Motor Show in 1972, Maserati Boomerang became fully working car: it even certified for use on public roads, and later sold to an unknown collector. "Filling" wheel in this car has changed a bit, but his appearance certainly "pin" the owner so far.

Subaru XT

1985

to play with the shape of the spokes steering wheel - a sacred thing. Some companies, such as "Citroen", adored scheme with one needle, some prefer two, three or four, but always respected the principle of symmetry. But Subaru - an unusual company.

Arranged in the form of a boomerang (gun, pipe, croissants - as you prefer) needles looked not so hot, but nice complement interior with dashboard, more like a computer game in those years, and forms that would look great in a thriller about the future.

Nissan Nails

year 2001

Nissan stylists to create the miracle of a pickup Nails decided not to split hairs with the shape of the spokes. They simply did not do! Thus was born this misunderstanding rubber, shaped more like a poisonous mushroom.

The very concept also had a crazy design - which is a sliding metal "bench" instead of chairs!

Citroen Osmose

year 2000

None of the spokes, so without needles - one more, not less Bezbashenny prototype. But from the brand Citroen.

The French concept Osmose wheel - not quite wheel. Rather, it is a big screen in a retro-style that the driver have to twist.

The developers have suggested that on the steering wheel, you can display a lot of information: speed, navigation and traffic, weather information, images from the rear view camera (they replace the mirror) and even ... random passenger data ! After all, the concept of Osmose with the appearance of self-propelled tent - a machine about a future in which crime and racism be defeated, all love each other, and the driver of any car with a fun driving up the road strangers.

A person needs to be planted - he presses the button of the smartphone, the signal goes to the driver the nearest "Citroen" and he was immediately taken on board. At the same time, and you can meet. However, sitroenovtsy for some reason decided to create a barrier between people, offering the driver and passenger do not go too far, and to be limited only virtual hands - for this we need to touch the steering wheel painted on the palm.

Lancia Medusa

1980

In 1980, integrated into the steering wheel touch screen it was difficult, so the creators of the concept car Lancia Medusa decided to replace it with the buttons. At the wheel of the prototype we put everything I could: hours, light keys, windshield wipers, audio system and even the climate system. Believe that modern "Citroens" a lot of buttons on the steering wheel? Ha!

The rest of the way, the concept of the Lancia quite traditional: it was built on the basis of Montecarlo model five-door hatchback in the already not very important wedge style. Which, however, are extremely low for the time Cx drag coefficient 0, 263 "Design" Lancia Medusa in the studio Italdesign.

Lancia Orca

1982

Two years later, the same studio - probably never get rid of the obsession to push on the steering wheel as much as possible keys - concept presented Lancia Orca. It was also a five-door hatchback with sleek, but this time it was based on units Delta Integrale.

Cx aerodynamic drag coefficient was even lower - 0, 245, but the buttons on the steering wheel was less than, for example, operate a Sony audio system moved to a separate panel to the right of the dashboard, and the clock took place on the left. But she dashboard turned out so wonderful, as currently you can imagine: a man who had seen her, already no surprise.

Pontiac Pursuit Concept

1987

Nothing? Well, except that the wheel of the Pontiac Pursuit 1987 futuristic concept of the year. His wheel was more like a joystick on a game console, only the buttons on it was more: there was even a full telephone keypad. After all, the car was (or rather, guess) and cellular communications, and the ability to send text messages.

By the way, the wheel did not have a direct connection with the wheels: in the corners meet motors, and they are turning all four wheels at once.

The Edsel

1958

Launching polulyuksovuyu Edsel brand in the late 1950s, concern Ford has decided to bet on design and a variety of "chips". But in the end Edsel cars suffered a complete collapse - freshly brand did not last on the market three years.

Edsel car looked disgusting. Not better things were in the cabin: which is only a rotating dome speedometer or wheel with a fixed hub, which is located inside the mode button automatic transmission! Such a mechanism was also inconvenient and unreliable.

Ford Interceptor

2007

The concept car Ford Interceptor, presented at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show - a very nice car. Hefty sedan made in a deliberately crude style: his hood kilometer long, a maximum and a minimum of square shapes are rounded. Beside him, a menacing Chrysler 300C - yard punks.

However, it later suffered designers. They decided to make a square everything! The interior - one of squares and devices, and inserts on the seats, and the rocker lever KP, and even the steering wheel (not only himself, but also his boss). Surprisingly, as the "Ford" logo left oval.

BMW Z22Concept

year 2001

Another "kvadratish-praktish" - this time Bavarian. Concept car BMW Z22 public perceived negatively. It was not that he was very ugly, and not that it was strange-monocab. The reason was that he was a front wheel drive, which until last year was nonsense. But we still are only interested in his wheel.

In addition to its perverted form, it can boast a built-in fingerprint sensor (switch the machine was not) and a variety of different keys: they controlled transmission system projected on the windshield and millions of other functions.

Spyker C8

year 2000

revived the Dutch brand Spyker in 2000 broke supercar C8. Technically, there was nothing remarkable: aluminum body, 400-hp V8 engine from Audi. The highlight of the machine from the country of debauchery and tulips was design, and especially the steep interior has turned out.

every detail was taken as a piece of art. Even the pedals and outdoor parade gearbox drive mechanism has already pulled out to take his place in the palace of the Queen of the Netherlands. Well chetyrehspitsevy wheel with fine leather trim with rivets was simply divine. And even if it did not have airbags if and die - it is only in this saloon!