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Yamaha Motiv.e two-seater to begin production from 2019 – report

The Yamaha Motiv.e, a two-seat vehicle engineered by designed Gordon Murray, is reportedly set to enter production from 2019.


A well-placed anonymous source has told the Nikkei that the Japanese motorcycle maker is planning on making a two-seat vehicle, closely related to the 2013 concept car, before the end of the decade at a plant in Europe.

According to the news wire, Yamaha plans to spend "tens of billions of yen" (10 billion yen is equivalent to $107 million) on a new factory in Europe, although a location has yet to be determined.

Buyers of the production car can choose between either a pure EV or a version powered by 1.0-litre petrol engine. Sales will initially be limited to Europe, although the company is reportedly looking at Asia and Japan as possible markets.

Measuring just 2.69 metres long, 1.47m wide and 1.48 tall, the Motiv.e concept had a 15kW/658Nm electric motor powering the rear wheels. Pedal to the metal, the Motiv.e's electric heart could churn out 25kW/896Nm for a short period of time.

Driven this way it could hit 100km/h in under 15 seconds and go on top a top speed over 105km/h. With a 7.2kWh battery on-board and just 730kg to haul around (excluding passengers), the motorcycle manufacturer claimed that the Motiv.e could achieve a real world range of over 160km.

The Motiv.e features a tubular steel frame understructure to which composite panels are bonded. Designed by Gordon Murray, the man behind the McLaren F1, the Yamaha Motiv.e was based on his earlier T.25 and T.27 concepts.

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