The Tokyo Motor Show has rebranded as the Japan Mobility Show to reflect how the personal transport market is diversifying, and that suits Yamaha just fine. The Japanese brand might be most famous for its motorcycles (or pianos, if that’s your thing), but it’s brought an eclectic bunch of vehicles to the show to underline just how broad its interests are, the coolest of which is the Tricera trike.
A three-wheel concept car with dual tires at the front and a single wheel out back, it looks like a sci-fi reimagining of Morgan’s Super 3, or a much less ugly Polaris Slinghsot. Yamaha hasn’t revealed what kind of engine powers the Tricera, but it does say that the front and rear wheels can steer in the same direction, or the opposite direction to each other to enhance agility and stability. It also suggests that the rear steering can be deactivated altogether for a more organic driving experience.
The trike is fitted with two tiny aero screens, but one of the images appears to show air flowing beneath the hood and up over the driver’s head, which might mean you can away without having to wear a helmet to avoid the worst of the wind can throw at you. It also looks like the wraparound shoulder support in the seat might also form part of the trike’s structure and offer some kind of crash protection.
Related: Morgan Super 3 Now On Sale In U.S. With A New Face But The Same Charm
Other interesting machines on display on Yamaha’s stand include a three-wheel Leaning Multi-Wheeler (LMW) trail bike with conventional chain drive to the rear and dual hub motors on the front end, and a wild futuristic naked sports bike with an electric powertrain called Motoroid2.
But of more interest to non-bikers is a hydrogen-fuelled version of Yam’s YXZ1000R side-by-side off-road buggy. If you’re thinking it looks awfully familiar even though you’re not into this kind of vehicles that’s because Lexus reskinned the YXZ to create its ROV (Recreational Off-highway Vehicle) Concept in 2021. Yamaha says the 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine emits no CO2 but retains “attractive” combustion engine qualities like sound and vibration.
