--- title: "This Mazda Concept’s Weird Steering Belt Makes the Yoke Look Ergonomic" description: "Bertone's 1981 Mazda MX-81 Aria concept had possibly the strangest, most confusing steering wheel design of all time." date: "2024-04-08" modified: "2024-04-08" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/this-mazda-concepts-weird-steering-belt-makes-the-yoke-look-ergonomic" categories: - "Culture" - "History" - "Mazda News" - "News" - "News by Brand" --- # This Mazda Concept’s Weird Steering Belt Makes the Yoke Look Ergonomic ![]() *\Mazda\* [Steering yokes]() may annoy many of us, but the idea to replace the time-tested steering wheel isn't a new one. [Mazda's]() 1981 MX-81 Aria concept is proof of that. Penned by Marc Deschamps, then-head of design at [Bertone](), the [MX-81]() was quintessential 1980s futurism, with a *Blade Runner*-like exterior and an interior full of bizarre shapes and overwhelmingly complicated buttons. However, the weirdest part of the entire car, for better or worse, was its steering wheel—if you can even call it that. Countless concepts of the '70s and '80s had unconventional steering devices, like the [Citroen Karin]() and [Maserati Boomerang](). Yet, the MX-81 Aria's makes almost all of them seem ordinary by comparison. Rather than physically turning a wheel, to steer the MX-81 you rotated what was essentially a conveyor belt around a rectangular steering column-slash-gauge cluster. ![]() *Form Trends via YouTube* The column was fixed in place, as it also housed buttons for turn signals, windshield wipers, headlights, and one big honkin' pad for the horn. Deeply recessed in its center was a CRT screen, which relayed information like speed and RPMs. All that is pretty typical of '80s concept cars; what's harder to grasp is the belt clad in weird Chiclet-like nubs. To steer the car, you sort of had to palm the rubber nubs and push them around their fixed track, which looks unwieldy and uncomfortable. Thankfully it remained a concept, and Mazda never actually tried to bring such a design to production. You'd imagine the likelihood of a crash would be pretty high and yet, I'd still love to give it a whirl. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Aside from the oddball steering, the MX-81's cabin was quite forward-looking. It had rotating front seats, which is still very common in concept cars; a massive (for the time) screen for the driver; and a clever rotating dashboard storage compartment for the passenger. Even the outside had some noteworthy features, like a power-operated windshield-wiper cover. ![]() ![]() Typically, Mazda destroyed concepts like the MX-81 back in the day but, for some reason, [the automaker spared this particular experiment its life]() and locked it away for decades. It wasn't until 2021 that the company brought it out of storage, dusted it off, and sent it to Italy where it could be restored. Once that process was complete, it was brought to the Piazza del Duomo in Milan, where Mazda recreated its original press photos in front of the Milan Cathedral. Of course, it was likely trailered there, because I'm skeptical anyone could've possibly driven it with that funky steering belt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHjUIcgEwio *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()