The diminutive sports car aims to deliver a driving experience comparable to a motorcycle, but in a four-wheel package aimed at a “mature audience.” Engineers focused on keeping weight down, while designers took inspiration from Yamaha’s two-wheeled lineup.
Narrow bands of LED headlights mimic the flagship YZF-R1 sport bike, converging on an angular point that drops downward between carbon-fiber front splitters and pronounced air intakes. The tail end follows the same format, placing the dual-pipe muffler high between the taillights rather than conforming to a traditional car layout.
The motorcycle theme is not constrained to the exterior, with instruments and controls arranged in a forward-focused symmetrical configuration. Taking the idea to the extreme, a divider runs between the driver’s feet and a bulge rises from the seat to evoke a bike’s fuel tank.
Designed with help from Gordon Murray — better known for Formula One racers and the McLaren F1 — the rear-wheel-drive coupe is underpinned by a lightweight space-frame chassis with composite panels bonded to the tubes. The same ‘iStream’ production approach was first detailed in 2012 and later appeared in the form of a two-seat city car.
Yamaha has not yet divulged technical details for the Sports Ride, though it is likely motivated by a screaming adaptation of a motorcycle engine. Weighing in at just 1,653 pounds, the coupe is a few hundred pounds lighter than Volkswagen’s Ducati-powered XL Sport.
The Japanese company has not yet confirmed plans to develop the Sports Ride into a production machine.
Live images by Ben Hsu.
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