Last year, we learned that Yamaha abandoned plans to build automobiles, putting an end to the lightweight sports car project that so many were waiting for.
Since these are not sports car-friendly times, the Japanese company decided there was no business case for the small coupe designed by Gordon Murray based on his iStream manufacturing process. For those who were expecting Yamaha’s Sports Ride Concept to transition into a production vehicle, the news certainly came as a big disappointment.
Taking this into account, these patent images of Yamaha’s stillborn sports car will surely disappoint fans further. Released by the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) and brought to our attention by CybertruckTalk, the images from the 2018 patent application reveal the final design of Yamaha’s production sports car that will never be.
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The images reveal some very interesting details, the most important of which are the closed-off front grille and the lack of an exhaust system. These are clear hints that Yamaha most likely had switched to all-electric propulsion as the project transitioned to a production vehicle.
Adding insult to injury is the fact the production EV would have probably used Yamaha’s recently-released electric motor that’s good for 200 kW (270 HP / 274 PS) – more than enough power for a small, lightweight sports car.
The Sports Ride Concept’s mid-engine layout would have been preserved by the production model, as suggested by the big air intakes located behind the doors. Other details worth mentioning include the sizable rear diffuser, flush door handles, teardrop-shaped headlights and round taillights connected by a trim piece spanning the entire width of the car.
All these elements show the production model would have been very different from the concept, adopting a less aggressive and friendlier look. It’s a damn shame for such a clean and lovely design to go to waste, don’t you think?
