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Yamaha Cross Hub ute concept unveiled

Yamaha has unveiled the Cross Hub ute concept in Tokyo, with room for four people and two motorbikes its compact body.


With everything from motorcycles and boats to outboard motors, scooters, all-terrain vehicles, generators, snow throwers, golf carts and snowmobiles in its range, Yamaha Motor says it "knows the potential and possibilities for fun through mobility".

The problem with making such a broad range of power sports toys is finding a way to carry them all around. That's where the Cross Hub concept comes in. Aimed at inner-city dwellers, Yamaha says it's "just the right size" for people who want to escape the urban grind on weekends.

Measuring 4490mm long, 1960mm wide and 1750mm tall, the Cross Hub is short, wide and tall. The wide body helps the car to seat four people in a unique diamond-shaped layout.

The driver's seat and steering wheel are positioned centrally, with two passengers slightly behind and to the sides, and the fourth passenger placed behind the driver. Entry to and exit from the Cross Hub is helped by the rear-hinged front doors.

We like to think of the setup as 'McLaren F1 seating with Rolls-Royce Dawn doors'.

According to Yamaha, the unique seating arrangement also allows the Cross Hub to fit two motorcycles in the tray, despite the short distance between the front and rear bumpers. Both the cabin and rear cargo area have wood floors.

Yamaha is yet to provide any details about the Cross Hub's drivetrain, but given the company used to produce V6 and V8 engines for the Ford Taurus and various Volvos, as well as four-cylinder motors for Toyota, there's hope for something interesting under the bonnet.


Podcast

Listen to the CarAdvice team discuss the Tokyo Motor Show below, and catch more like this at caradvice.com/podcast.

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