The Secret Sports Car: Yamaha's Unbelievable Foray into Automotive Legends
Yamaha is a name that resonates with speed demons and music maestros alike. While many associate Yamaha with high-octane motorcycles or finely-tuned musical instruments, fewer know about the company's brief but fascinating venture into the world of sports cars. From innovative engine designs to ambitious automotive projects, Yamaha has dabbled in areas that often surprise even the most ardent enthusiasts.
The company's journey into the automotive world began in the 1960s when it helped Toyota develop the iconic 2000GT. This collaboration wasn't just a one-off; Yamaha went on to engineer and produce Ford's impressive V-6 SHO and V-8 SHO engines. If that wasn’t enough, Yamaha contributed to the high-revving V-10 engine for the Lexus LFA supercar, a masterpiece that still sends chills down the spines of automotive aficionados. Volvo models and sports cars like the Toyota Celica and MR2, as well as the Lotus Elise, also benefited from Yamaha's engineering prowess.
The Dream That Almost Was: Yamaha's Own Car
However, Yamaha’s automotive ambitions didn’t stop at collaborating with other brands. In 1992, Yamaha ventured into making its own car with the OX99-11. This was no ordinary car—it was a V-12-powered beast intended to bring F1 technology to the streets. Unfortunately, the early 1990s recession shelved this exciting project, leaving the car world wondering what could have been.
Not one to give up easily, Yamaha tried again in 2013 with the Motiv, a compact and charming city car. Once again, the project didn’t make it to production, but Yamaha’s most ambitious attempt came in 2015 when they introduced the Sports Ride Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. Designed as a potential competitor to the beloved Mazda Miata, the Sports Ride was a rear-wheel-drive, two-seater coupe that was as lightweight as it was eye-catching.
The Yamaha Sports Ride: A Concept that Captured Imaginations
Built around Gordon Murray Design's innovative iStream chassis, the Sports Ride weighed a mere 1,653 pounds, significantly lighter than the MX-5 Miata at the time. Measuring 153.5 inches long, 67.7 inches wide, and 46 inches tall, its dimensions were also quite similar to the Miata. The Sports Ride was a tantalizing prospect for those who appreciated minimalist, driver-focused sports cars.
The concept didn’t just vanish after its Tokyo debut. Patent images surfaced in 2018, showing an updated design that looked closer to a production model. The new design bore a resemblance to Lotus cars and lacked exhaust tips, leading many to speculate that Yamaha was pivoting towards an electric driveline for the Sports Ride.
A Glimpse of Reality: The Near-Production T40
Further fueling speculation, a video emerged showing Yamaha testing a refined version of the Sports Ride in 2017. This updated model, dubbed the T40, still sported a combustion engine, though Yamaha never revealed which one. They did mention that the car’s headlights were inspired by their YZF-R1 sports bike, which itself featured a 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine capable of producing 200 horsepower. Imagine that kind of power in such a lightweight coupe—it would have given the Miata serious competition.
The sight of the T40 in testing phases suggested that Yamaha was quite serious about bringing this car to market. Yet, despite all the promise and excitement, Yamaha abandoned its car development plans in 2019, leaving the T40 as another tantalizing