Yamaha to present new concept car at Tokyo Motor Show

Yamaha has announced that it will reveal a new concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month, which will be on display at the firm’s home auto show alongside 19 other models.

However, it’ll be the only vehicle with four wheels on display from the multifaceted Japanese engineering firm. The rest of Yamaha’s Tokyo line-up will be made up of new electric bicycles, scooters, motorbikes and leaning multi-wheelers.

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Yamaha does have plenty of experience developing engines for other manufacturers, but the firm rarely turns its hand to developing a full car. The concept heading to Tokyo later this month will be the first Yamaha car to be revealed in two years, when the Sports Ride Concept also made its bow at the Tokyo show. 

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The Sports Ride Concept uses a production process called iStream, which was developer by designer Gordon Murray (the man behind the McLaren F1, as well as the new TVR sports car, the re-bord Griffith). This process allows lightweight, high-rigidity cars to be produced more efficiently.

The car itself is a small, mid-engined two seater with a handsome profile and curvy front-end and rear-end styling. Weighing just 750kg, it's clearly inspired by Yamaha's motorcycles.

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The concept signals a possible production model for the brand, although officially it's just a demonstration of new technology. Whether what we see later this month is an updated version of this concept or something entirely new remains to be seen. 

Read all the latest news from the Tokyo Motor Show on our round-up page.