Yamaha Ponders Building Gordon Murray-Inspired City Car

Yamaha Corp. may become the first company to adopt an unusual city car architecture and the innovative production process to build it from legendary Formula One race car designer Gordon Murray.

Yamaha used last week's Tokyo auto show to unveil the Motiv, a two-seat concept inspired by the T.25 prototype Gordon Murray Design Ltd. introduced three years ago.

Murray and Yamaha have been jointly developing the Motiv since 2011. Autocar describes the vehicle as fully engineered and awaiting production approval by Yamaha's board. The magazine estimates the Motiv could hit the European market by 2016, priced at about $16,000.

The car is about the size of a Smart ForTwo city car but weighs 100 kg less, according to Autocar. Yamaha and Murray have developed piston- and electric powered versions.

The Motiv features a fully independent suspension and rear-wheel drive. Murray's original car was designed to accommodate a gasoline or electric powertrain. Yamaha estimates the electric Motiv would have a range of 100 miles.

Key to the project is Murray's iStream production system. The design firm says its approach reduces capital investment 80% and uses 60% less energy than conventional manufacturing. The architecture features a tubular frame that holds the powertrain, suspension and wiring. Plastic body panels are then bonded to the frame.