What if you could have all instruments inside the steering wheel? That was the idea behind the Maserati Boomerang. It was first displayed as a non-functional model at the Turin Motor Show in 1971. By the Geneva Salon in March 1972, it had been transformed into a fully operational vehicle. Themechanics were from Maserati, the engine being the race-bred V8 of 4.7 liters, developing no less than 310 hp and good for an indicated top speed of 300 km/h. One journalist observed that it looked as though it was doing a hundred miles an hour standing still! It was then, until 1974, successively shown at the Paris, London and Barcelona motor shows and was unanimously praised for its audacity. (Link | Photo)
The Citroen Xenia Concept was introduced in 1981 and was a scale model design that never went past the concept stage. The interior was just as futuristic as the exterior, with a slew of lights and buttons in-and-around thesteering wheel. The concept was envisioned as having an automatic gearbox and plenty of glass on all four corners, offering an open-air feeling for the occupants. (Link)
The 1988 Pontiac Banshee concept car interior was a blend of 1988 and 2008: high-tech gadgetry and conveniences, but using technology that existed when the car was built. Gauges were electronic and included a 3-D head-up display.
Remember K.I.T.T., the talking, computerized car from the old 80's TV hit,Knight Rider? Built by a dedicated fan in Toronto, the replica took over 4 years and $40k (CAD) to build. The modified 1984 Pontiac Trans Amfeatures all of the meaningless flashing lights and buttons from TV's one-and-only talking car, along with a handful of updates like LCD screens and a DVD/CD/MP3 player to keep up with the times. Just about the only thing missing is the familiar voice of William Daniels to keep you in line. (Link)
