What's all this about?

Alongside a motorcycle that has two front wheels and one rear (like the Piaggio MP3 moped) and a robotic motorcyclist (no, we're really not making this stuff up), Yamaha had another highly intriguing creation on its Tokyo Motor Show stand: a car.

A car? What was Yamaha thinking?

Not sure, but we like the result. Given the firm's strong association with all things two-wheeled, the Sports Ride Concept is designed to show what a car that thinks it's a bike would be like. Thus, it is built along principles founded by Gordon Murray.

Umm... you're losing me now, unless you mean the Gordon Murray who designed the McLaren F1?

The very same. Two years ago at the same show, Murray and Yamaha showed off the Motiv.e., which - as the name gives away - was an electric vehicle. That car was built to Murray's iStream ideal, which Yamaha quotes as 'a process developed by Gordon Murray Design Limited to produce lightweight, high-rigidity vehicle structures rooted in Formula One technology'. The Sports Ride Concept, we're sure you'll agree, looks a lot more F1 than the Motiv.e.

It does indeed. So what's powering it?

Other than hazarding a guess at a Yamaha motorcycle engine? We can't tell you. Yamaha is tight-lipped about the Sports Ride Concept, apart from informing us that it's compact (we can see that - it's just 3.9 metres long, 1.7 metres wide and less than 1.2 metres high), light (750kg) and can seat two (well, obviously). It is mid-engined and rear-wheel drive, though. Perhaps we can dream that the Yamaha 4.4-litre V8 that used to see service in the old Volvo XC90 is stuffed in there, chucking 311hp at the back tyres...

So, little chance of this being made, then?

It certainly looks that way. Although we'd be delighted to be proven wrong on that score.

Matt Robinson - 28 Oct 2015