Yamaha is a motorcycle brand. Well, mainly a motorcycle brand, but it also produces other types of products. However, in the automobile world, she never had a car or, at least, an automobile bearing the logo of the brand in tune never drove on the street. However, not so long ago, Yamaha did create a car.
2015: Yamaha creates a surprise at the Tokyo Motor Show
It was in 2015, as part of the Tokyo Motor Show, when the Japanese manufacturer took advantage of playing at home to strike a big blow, by unveiling to the world the Yamaha Sports Ride Concept, an ultra-sports prototype. light which immediately captured the attention of enthusiasts.
The brand, aware that its preferred field was two-wheelers, decided to call on an expert to create the project. It thus joined forces with Gordon Murray Design Limited to develop the chassis of the car using the iStream technique, based on Formula 1 technology to obtain a very light basic structure, but with great rigidity.
An ultralight “toy” with contained dimensions
The result could be defined as a “toy”, because the sports car had really contained dimensions (3.90 meters long, 1.72 m wide and 1.17 m high), but an even smaller weight, since She only weighed 750 kg on the scale.
The main culprit for this lightness was the chassis, made of high-strength, low-thickness tubes, but the use of lightweight materials such as composite and fiberglass in various parts of the car also contributed.
A mysterious engine, subject to all speculation
One aspect that was never revealed was the engine that was hidden within its bowels, which gave rise to rumors of all kinds. One of the most juicy suggested that it was equipped with the same block as the YZF-R1 of the time, with which it shared its aesthetic. In this case, it would have been a 1.0 four-cylinder engine with 200 hp.
Radical and aggressive design
If its technical part was radical, its design followed the same direction. Its proportions were those of a sports car, but its look made it even more extreme, featuring angular and very aggressive shapes, with several details that were quite striking:
The interior was focused on driving, with no screens of any kind and concentrating all necessary information on three analog dials behind the steering wheel.
Yamaha, a history of forays into the world of four-wheelers
Finally, it is worth remembering that the Yamaha Sports Ride Concept was not Yamaha's only foray into the world of four-wheelers. Throughout its history, the brand has collaborated on the development of engines for models from several manufacturers, ranging from Toyota to Lotus, including Lexus (with its legendary LFA).
So, even if this concept car never saw the light of day, it testifies to the creativity and daring that Yamaha can demonstrate when it ventures outside its usual playground. A little-known but fascinating page in the history of this legendary brand, which reminds us that innovation and passion for motorsport can sometimes take unexpected paths…
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