Yamaha is a brand with diverse interests, from motorcycles to musical instruments and beyond. Few know that it also has a history in the automotive sector, having collaborated with Toyota, Ford, Lexus, and Volvo on various projects.
In the 1990s, Yamaha even considered building its own car, the OX99-11, but the project was scrapped due to recession. In 2013, it revisited the idea with the Motiv, but that too failed to materialize.
In 2015, Yamaha exposed the Sports Ride concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive coupe that rivaled the Mazda Miata.
Designed by Gordon Murray, it featured a sleek, Lotus-esque design and a rumored 1.0-liter engine producing 200 horsepower.
Patent images emerged in 2018, showing a toned-down design and leading many to believe it had become an EV. However, a video from Yamaha revealed the car, now called the T40, undergoing testing with a combustion engine in 2017.
Despite its promising performance and design, Yamaha abandoned its car development plans in 2019, leaving the T40 on the cutting room floor.
It’s a shame, as the T40 had the potential to be a serious competitor in the affordable sports car market, rivaling the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86.
Yamaha’s foray into the automotive world may have been short-lived, but it leaves behind a legacy of innovative designs and engineering feats.