Yamaha Begins Work on Four-Wheeled Project

Yamaha and Caterham have begun working together, with the pair combining forces to build an all-new electric sports coupe called Project V.

Specifically for this project, Yamaha has confirmed it is developing and supplying an e-axle for the British firm, exclusively for use in prototype vehicles. An e-axle is a system used to deliver power from an electric motor to a vehicle’s wheels. As they are designed for use in electric vehicles, they are commonly developed and designed to withstand very high torque loadings and normally utilise a traditional axle structure with all the necessary electronic components located within the structure.

The use of e-axles is becoming more and more commonplace in the automotive world, as it means multiple manufacturers can buy units, such as the one being developed by Yamaha, and they can be slotted into a variety of vehicles.

A statement on the Yamaha corporate website reads:

“Yamaha Motor has set a companywide environmental goal to achieve carbon neutrality in Scope 3 emissions [produced from Yamaha's value chain, e.g., use of sold products] by 2050. We are engaged in the development of advanced small and lightweight electric powertrains, which is the company's strength, and in March 2024, we announced the entry into the Formula E World Championship.

“To create a more sustainable world, Yamaha Motor will continue promoting the research and development of technologies that contribute to sustainability.”

Aside from the brand’s exploits in Formula E, Yamaha’s other well-known foray into the four-wheeled world came in the 1990s, and the sadly stillborn OX99-11 supercar. Technically it was built by Yamaha’s subsidiary, Ypsilon Technology, and came at a time when Yamaha was a Formula One engine supplier to teams like Jordan, Brabham, Zakspeed and Arrows. The brand also helped develop powertrains for various manufacturers, perhaps most famously working with Lexus on the LFA supercar’s V10.

The car Yamaha and Caterham are working on is described as a ‘lightweight, simple and fun-to-drive’ by the carmaker on its website. It goes on to say that a prototype is being worked on already by Tokyo R&D, which is hoped to be finished by the middle of 2025.