Usually names like Yamaha are rarely associated with the world of cars as they are more dedicated to producing amazing motorcycles. But when Yamaha is collaborating with someone like Gordon Murray, we know that we should pay attention on whatever it is they are working on. Our curiosity was finally answered as Yamaha introduced to the world their new Sports Ride Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show.
To those wondering who Gordon Murray is, he is the man who was responsible in designing the magnificent McLaren F1. So when these two parties join forces in producing a masterpiece, you can say that we are in for a treat. The Sports Ride Concept was inspired by the sensation of riding a motorcycle, so the car has an overall dimension measuring very similar to a Mazda MX-5 but weighs lighter at 748kg.
The Sports Ride Concept features Murray’s iStream Carbon chassis where it is described as the world’s first affordable high-volume carbon fiber chassis structure that allows lightweight yet sturdy cars be built without that hefty supercar-like price tag.
The iStream Carbon uses Formula 1 technology and it works by two carbon skins sandwiching a honeycomb core, which in contrast to many pricy handmade supercars that employ monolithic (single skin carbon) panels. The iStream Carbon is said to be a fully mechanized system with a cycle time of just 100 seconds.
Unfortunately Yamaha has yet to reveal the powertrain for the Sports Ride Concept but they did featured a three-cylinder engine as well as an electric drive system found in the iStream-based Motiv, so those might just be a possibility.
