Een klein beetje MaxxAuto nieuws kan van tijd tot tijd, zeker als Yamaha gemoeid is met de aandrijving. Het merk heeft nauwe banden met verschillende autobouwers (denk maar eens aan de Lexus LFA), en dit keer helpen ze mee met de ontwikkeling van een nieuwe Caterham. In onderstaand persbericht lees je dat Yamaha de elektrische aandrijving zal leveren voor een nieuwe sportieve coupé. Het ziet er in ieder geval een pak aantrekkelijker uit dan de hybride en elektrische koekblikken die je tegenwoordig op de weg ziet…
Yamaha Motor to collaborate with British company Caterham on development of a new electric sports coupé
Developing and supplying an e-axle exclusively for prototype vehicles
Yamaha Motor announced today its partnership in the development of a new electric sports coupé, referred to as ‘Project V,’ that is being led by Caterham EVo Limited, a UK-based subsidiary of VT Holdings Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture). The collaboration aims to advance the project toward mass production and commercialisation.
Project V is a development project for an electric sports coupé that inherits Caterham’s DNA, which prioritises driving pleasure with the principles of light-weight, simple and fun-to-drive. Caterham initially unveiled the concept car Project V at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK in July 2023 and later at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January 2024. Currently, in collaboration with Tokyo R&D Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, hereafter referred to as Tokyo R&D), they are progressing with the development and production of a prototype vehicle, targeting completion around mid-2025, with a view toward mass production and commercialisation.
Yamaha is independently developing the e-axle, a key component of the electric powertrain, and will supply its trial model for the Project V prototype. In terms of vehicle motion control, Yamaha will also provide the technologies and expertise, aiming to realise “Caterham Powered by Yamaha Motor.”
Yamaha has set a company-wide environmental goal to achieve carbon neutrality in Scope 3* emissions by 2050. The company is engaged in the development of advanced small and lightweight electric powertrains, which is Yamaha’s strength; in March 2024, Yamaha announced its entry as developer and supplier of high-performance electric powertrains into the Formula E World Championship.
To create a more sustainable world, Yamaha will continue promoting the research and development of technologies that contribute to sustainability.
*Emissions produced from Yamaha’s value chain, e.g., use of sold products.