Gordon Murray's Yamaha MOTIV.e on Display in Tokyo

Gordon Murray is in the pantheon of great automotive designers of the last half-century. After starting his career penning Formula 1 cars, he spearheaded the McLaren F1McLaren F1United Kingdom, 1992 > 19986 versions
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project. His latest project is a concept city car called the MOTIV.e for YamahaYamahaJapan, 1955 > present1 model
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at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The car is made mostly of composites to keep the car light and safe. It rides on a steel frame with composite panels forming the safety cell and a plastic exterior. The suspension is independent at all four corners and keeps unsprung weight low.

Power comes from an electric motor with 34hp and an 8.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It uses a single-speed transmission with power going to the rear wheels. The MOTIV.e has an estimated range of 100 miles.

Yamaha’s motorcycles, according to Murray, inspire its shape but the similarities are hard to see. The MOTIV.e has a blunt front end with narrow grill along the top and wraparound headlights. In profile, there are creases coming from the headlights and wheel arches in the front and rear that stretch to the center of the car. It gives the car a dynamic, agile look from the side. At the rear, the car has an integrated rear spoiler and taillights incorporated into the rear glass.

The interior is Spartan in the extreme. There is no obvious gearshift or anything between the driver and passenger. There is a single gauge pod behind the steering wheel. There is not much to do in the car other than drive.