Turin can be a little surprising, and this is one of those stops. At MAUTO, you sit behind the wheel of three famous vintage cars using Roarington simulators built with design input from Pininfarina and Zagato. I love that you get to drive real automotive legends from the 1950s, and I also like that you race on historic circuits in a 3D setup that feels like a proper museum tech demo. The main drawback is the rules: it’s not for anyone who struggles with motion sickness, and you must meet height and manual-driving requirements.

This experience happens inside the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile, so it fits naturally into a day in Turin’s automobile-focused world. You’ll meet staff at the museum, skip the ticket line, and choose your ride as a private group with an instructor available in English, French, or Italian. The “one ride = one person” setup is part of the fun, but it also means partners and kids may have to wait their turn.

Key Things I’d Notice Before You Go

• Three 1950s icons: Alfa Romeo Disco Volante (1952), Lancia D24 (1953), Fiat Turbina (1954)
• Historic circuit racing in 3D, powered by Roarington simulators
• Design pedigree: simulators designed by Pininfarina and Zagato
• Pick your car and your circuit, so you’re not stuck with a single run
• One passenger per ride, so plan for turn-taking
• Small perks: simulator included plus 10% off at the Caffetteria

Where This Lives in Turin: MAUTO and the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile

If you already like car design, engineering, or the look of Italian industrial creativity, MAUTO makes a lot of sense. The meeting point is the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin, which keeps everything tidy: you don’t need to hunt around the city for a hidden warehouse or a random street corner. It’s also nice that you can skip the ticket line, since time at museums is always the real currency.

This is a museum visit that adds a hands-on layer. Instead of only looking at cars behind glass, you get behind a “digital twin” style simulation of the 1950s machines and you race on historic circuits. For a day in Piedmont, that blend—design + motion—is an efficient way to get a memorable Turin moment without needing hours of transit or a full-day workshop.

One more practical note: it’s a private group activity. That typically means you’ll get direct attention during the session, rather than being shuffled around in a big crowd. You’ll also have an instructor available in English, French, or Italian, which matters because simulator rules are strict.

The Roarington Simulator Experience: What You Actually Do

You’re paying for a try-it-yourself driving session, not a lecture. The core is straightforward: you get behind the wheel of one of three iconic cars and race on a historic circuit using the Roarington simulator. The setup is 3D, and MAUTO frames it as virtual life for vehicles from its own avant-garde collection—think “future tech reimagining classic design,” not a barebones video game.

Here’s what makes it fun in a very practical way: each car has its own identity, at least in how the experience presents it. You’re not just choosing a skin; you’re choosing which legend you want to feel like you’re piloting. The experience also lets you pick the circuit for your run, so you can tailor the session to what you’re curious about—speed feel, cornering feel, and how different tracks change the race rhythm.

You should also know the experience is designed around safe use. It’s set up for a single passenger per ride, and the rules forbid carrying bags, food, drinks, or any extra objects into the simulator car. That keeps the cockpit area clear and safe, but it also means you should travel light.

The Three Cars You Can Drive: How They Fit the Vibe of MAUTO

MAUTO’s whole angle here is design and engineering from the mid-century. The simulator lineup matches that perfectly. You can drive:

• 1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante
• 1953 Lancia D24
• 1954 Fiat Turbina

Even without getting too technical, these names carry weight. They’re the kind of cars you see in posters, books, and museum displays because they represent bold thinking—shape, speed, and racing ambition. The simulator approach makes those ideas immediate: instead of seeing a static body line, you’re “driving” the concept and racing in a virtual environment.

For value, it matters that you get choice. If you’re going with someone who cares about different eras or marques, this lineup gives you a real conversation starter. One person might want the Alfa vibe, another might go for Lancia, and you don’t feel like you wasted your visit if you’re more excited by one car than the others.

Historic Circuits in 3D: Why Racing Feels Different Than Watching

The experience doesn’t ask you to be a professional driver. It gives you the feeling of racing on historic circuits, presented through the simulator’s 3D digital twin style approach. That’s a big deal because motion and perspective change how you understand car design.

When you drive a simulator, you notice things you’d never catch from a photo:

• how the track rhythm pushes you to adjust
• how turning feel changes your pace
• how braking and acceleration timing affects how the car “behaves” in the environment

This is also where Pininfarina and Zagato’s involvement starts to matter. Those brands are associated with automotive design craft, and the simulator concept is clearly trying to feel like more than a generic ride. The goal is that you’re experiencing the spirit of these cars, not just watching them in a loop.

And because it’s offered exclusively for MAUTO visitors, it feels like an extension of what the museum is already doing with its collection. You’re not just adding a random activity. You’re adding one that matches the museum’s identity.

Price and Value: Is $23 Worth It?

At $23 per person, this is priced to be accessible, especially because the simulator try itself is included. For many activities in big cities, you end up paying for the instruction, the setup, and the time slot. Here, you’re getting the hands-on simulator run plus an extra perk: 10% discount at the Caffetteria.

What really boosts the value is choice. You can pick from three legendary cars, and you can also choose the circuit for the session. If you’re the type who likes to “make the most” of a fixed time window, that decision-making is part of the payoff.

The only value catch is the strict fit requirements. If you’re someone who can’t meet the minimum height, can’t drive manual transmission, or is affected by motion sickness, you may not be able to use the simulator at all. In other words: the price is fair, but the experience is best for people who fit the requirements from the start.

Timing, Meeting, and the Private-Group Flow

This is a 1-day activity, and starting times depend on availability. You should plan around your museum schedule because the meeting point is the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile and you’ll want enough time to arrive, get checked in, and settle into your session.

What I like about the flow is that it’s not complicated. There’s an instructor, the language support is clearly listed (English, French, Italian), and it’s private-group style. That reduces the typical stress of figuring out what’s happening when.

Also, you get to skip the ticket line. That’s a real quality-of-life perk in Italy, where queues can be unpredictable. It helps you keep a smooth day plan, especially if you’re trying to see multiple MAUTO spaces in one go.

Who This Suits Best (and Who Should Think Twice)

This is a great fit for:

• people who love classic Italian design and racing culture
• visitors who want an interactive experience inside a major museum
• anyone comfortable with manual-driving basics, since it’s not set up for automatic-only control

It’s not a good fit if you have mobility constraints or medical limitations listed by the provider. The key restrictions include:

• not suitable for people with heart problems
• not suitable for lumbar or cervical problems
• not recommended for motion sickness
• pregnant women are not allowed to use it
• not suitable for wheelchair users or severe mobility impairments
• minimum passenger height is 1.65 m / 5 ft 4 in
• you must be able to drive manual transmission

That last point matters because some people assume simulator controls won’t matter. Here, the requirement is explicit, so treat it as non-negotiable.

If you’re traveling with family, note the “one passenger per ride” rule. That’s great if you’re all adults taking turns, but it can slow things down if you’re trying to keep kids entertained without activity time.

Small Details That Make the Session Easier

A few rules are easy to miss until you’re standing in front of the setup:

• Don’t bring bags, food, drinks, or other objects into the simulator car.
• You’re only one passenger per ride, so plan for turn-taking.
• Follow staff instructions in your chosen language (English, French, or Italian).

If you show up prepared—light load, comfortable clothing, and confidence with manual controls—you’ll spend less time adjusting and more time actually racing.

Also, if you’re sensitive to motion sickness, take that seriously. Even if you’ve handled cars before, simulators can feel different, and this one is explicitly not recommended for car-sickness sufferers. I’d rather you skip the headache than force it.

Should You Book This MAUTO Simulator Session?

I think you should book this if you want a fast, hands-on Turin experience centered on iconic Italian cars. For $23, you’re getting a simulator ride that lets you choose among three famous 1950s machines, race on historic circuits in 3D, and do it with instructor support in English, French, or Italian. The 10% Caffetteria discount is a small but real bonus.

Pass if you don’t meet the physical and control requirements. If you’re pregnant, prone to motion sickness, have back/heart/cervical issues, or need wheelchair access, this isn’t the right activity. In that case, you’ll be happier putting your time into other parts of MAUTO that don’t have these constraints.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for the Turin simulator experience?

You meet at the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile.

How much does it cost?

The price is $23 per person.

How long is the experience?

The activity is 1 day. Starting times depend on availability, so you’ll want to check what slots are offered.

What cars can I drive in the simulator?

You can drive the 1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante, the 1953 Lancia D24, and the 1954 Fiat Turbina.

What languages are available for the instructor?

The instructor is available in English, French, and Italian.

Is it a private group?

Yes, it’s listed as a private group.

Can more than one passenger ride at a time?

No. The simulator run allows 1 passenger per ride.

What are the height and driving requirements?

Minimum height is 1.65 m / 5 ft 4 in. It’s also stated that it’s not for people who can’t drive manual transmission.

Who should not use the simulator?

It’s not suitable for pregnant women. It’s also not recommended for people with motion sickness, and it lists restrictions for people with heart, lumbar, or cervical problems and for severe disabilities.

What’s included and is there a discount?

The simulator try is included, plus you get a 10% discount at the Caffetteria.

Is the experience refundable?

No. The cancellation policy says it is non-refundable.

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