Car design focuses on key areas, with the exterior serving as the first impression of a company’s vision and the interior shaping the driver’s experience. A well-designed interior enhances comfort and enjoyment, while a poorly executed one can diminish the overall feel of the car.
Despite this, one crucial element often overlooked is the steering wheel, the primary point of interaction between driver and vehicle. While most manufacturers opt for safe, functional designs, these unremarkable steering wheels rarely leave a lasting impression.
However, some manufacturers push boundaries with bold and unconventional steering wheel designs, making their cars stand out.
Even if the vehicle itself is forgettable, a unique steering wheel can become a defining feature, setting it apart from others on the road. Whether praised or criticized, such daring design choices leave a lasting impact on automotive enthusiasts and reinforce a brand’s commitment to innovation.
1. Ford “Wrist Twist” System
Ford and Mercury’s Wrist Twist system, designed by a former missile engineer, was an experimental approach to car control. However, testing revealed significant flaws.
If power steering failed, the car became nearly uncontrollable, and even when functioning correctly, the system was overly sensitive, causing abrupt and unpleasant movements.
Despite its innovation, the concept ultimately proved impractical for everyday driving. While the Wrist Twist system was a failure, it showcased an effort to push automotive design boundaries. Though unsuccessful, it remains a fascinating example of creative experimentation in vehicle control technology.
2. Lotus Evija
The Lotus Evija is an electrifying hypercar, both in performance and design. Its powerful electric drivetrain is matched by a bold interior featuring a uniquely shaped rectangular steering wheel.
While squared-off wheels are not new, this design pushes the concept further, blending futuristic aesthetics with classic race car influences.
The Evija’s interior reflects the same innovation as its exterior, making it a standout in both style and function, reinforcing Lotus’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive design.
3. Pagani Zonda R
Though the steering wheel may appear standard at first, its center holds impressive design elements. Made entirely of carbon fiber, it exudes sophistication and aggression in equal measure.
The standout feature, however, is the analog tachometer placed right in the middle, blending functionality with style. This combination of materials and design choices creates a striking focal point, elevating the wheel beyond the ordinary and reinforcing its high-performance character.
4. Nissan Cue-X
Concept cars give manufacturers the freedom to explore bold ideas without production constraints. Nissan’s Cue-X embodies their 1980s vision of the future, featuring digital displays—now common in modern cars—and a uniquely designed steering wheel.
This wheel stands out with a built-in control center at its core, blending futuristic innovation with an unconventional yet exciting aesthetic. The Cue-X showcases Nissan’s creativity, pushing boundaries in both technology and design.
5. Mazda MX-03
The Mazda MX-03 concept car embraces an aircraft-inspired design, featuring a futuristic steering wheel and dashboard reminiscent of a cockpit. This bold 1980s creation isn’t just visually striking but also seems thrilling to control on the road.
Similar to the Oldsmobile Incas, it pushes the boundaries of automotive interior design, blending aviation aesthetics with driving excitement. Its unique layout captures the era’s imaginative vision of the future of cars.
6. Oldsmobile Incas
The Oldsmobile Incas, designed by ItalDesign, takes futuristic interiors to the extreme. While the Aztec was already bold, the Incas pushes boundaries even further.
Its controls barely resemble a traditional steering wheel, looking more like those of a sci-fi aircraft than a car. This radical design showcases a daring vision of the future, emphasizing innovation and creativity over conventional automotive norms.
7. ItalDesign Aztec
Concept cars often lose their wild features in production, but the ItalDesign Aztec defied expectations. Despite a limited run of just 50 units, it retained the original concept’s bold design.
Notable features include an asymmetrical steering wheel and a rally-style computer for the passenger. This blend of futuristic styling and racing-inspired tech made the Aztec a truly unique and unconventional road-going machine, staying true to its visionary concept.
8. Lancia Beta Trevi
The Lancia Beta Trevi, part of the infamous rust-prone Beta family, stands out for one quirky redeeming feature—its outrageous interior design. The dashboard, inspired by Swiss cheese, is a bizarre yet fascinating centerpiece, while the uniquely simple yet strange steering wheel adds to its distinctiveness.
Though the Beta line is often remembered for its flaws, the Trevi’s unconventional styling ensures it remains a memorable, if polarizing, piece of automotive history.
9. Aston Martin Lagonda
The Aston Martin Lagonda was a futuristic marvel of the 1980s, decades ahead of its time. Though polarizing, its design remains unmatched, both inside and out.
The sharp angles and massive dashboard display set it apart, but its most striking feature is the dramatic single-spoke steering wheel wrapped in smooth leather. Love it or not, the Lagonda’s bold styling and innovative interior ensure its place as one of the most unique cars ever built.
10. Maserati Boomerang
The Maserati Boomerang’s interior is unlike anything before or since, featuring one of the most radical steering wheel and dashboard layouts ever created. As a one-of-a-kind concept car, its futuristic design defied all conventions.
If its unique aesthetic appeals to you, though, you’re out of luck—the Boomerang was sold for an astonishing $3.7 million. This groundbreaking concept remains an unforgettable example of Maserati’s bold and unconventional design experimentation.
Throughout automotive history, steering wheels have often been overshadowed by exterior styling and performance, yet these examples show how bold design choices can leave a lasting impression.
From futuristic concepts to racing-inspired aesthetics and unconventional layouts, these unique steering wheels challenge traditional norms and redefine innovation.
Whether experimental or production-ready, each one contributes to the evolution of car design, proving that even the smallest details can transform a vehicle into something truly extraordinary.
Also Read: 9 Best Steering Wheel Covers for Ultimate Comfort in Every Season
