Yamaha Tesseract
 The Yamaha Tesseract displayed at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. | |
| Manufacturer | Yamaha Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Successor | Yamaha Tricity Concept |
| Class | Concept vehicle |
| Engine | Liquid-cooled, 2 cylinders, V-Twin and an Electric Motor[1] |
| Suspension | Dual Scythe[2][1] |
| Dimensions |
L: 2,115 mm (83.3 in)[1] W: 720 mm (28 in)[1] H: 1,065 mm (41.9 in)[1] |
| Related | 4MC, Quadra4 |
The Yamaha Tesseract was a hybrid electric concept vehicle introduced by the Yamaha Motor Company at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. Although the Tesseract is technically a quadricycle, Yamaha has called it "The 4-Wheeled Motorcycle"[3] because it has a frontal profile nearly as narrow as a conventional motorcycle[4] and because it has a tilting wheel suspension that allows it to bank like a motorcycle. This suspension, which Yamaha refers to as a "Dual Scythe Suspension",[2][1] is similar to that of the 4MC concept vehicle.[5]
The Tesseract was designed by Luciano Marabese.[6][7] He and his family founded the Italian company Quadro Tecnologie, which develops similar tilting vehicles, like the Quadro4 (formerly the Quadro 4D Parkour).
Patents
Yamaha has been granted the following patents related to the Tesseract and its leaning control system:
United States Patent and Trademark Office
- US Patent 8,251,375 B2, "Body leaning control system, and a saddle riding type vehicle having the same"
- US Patent 8,265,820 B2, "Saddle riding type vehicle"
European Patent Office
- European Patent 2,127,920 B1, "Saddle riding type vehicle"
- European Patent 2,151,367 B1, "Body leaning control system, and a saddle riding type vehicle having the same"
- European Patent 2,154,050 B1, "Body tilting control system, and a saddle riding type vehicle having the same"
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "YAMAHA PRESS INFORMATION". Yamaha Motor Company. 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The 40th TOKYO MOTOR SHOW 2007 Special Site". Retrieved 2014-02-26.
Dual Scythe Suspension: This unique system features mantis-like arms that allow this 4-wheeler to lean into turns like a motorcycle. Even when turning, all four tyres grip the pavement, allowing for both a dynamic yet confidence-inspiring ride quality.
- ↑ "The 40th TOKYO MOTOR SHOW 2007 Special Site". Retrieved 2014-04-01.
- ↑ "Tokyo ’07: Yamaha Tesseract Concept – First Look". Cycle World. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
Like the Piaggio, the frontal profile is almost as narrow as a motorcycle[...]
- ↑ "4MC - 4 wheeled Motorcycle Concept". The Four Wheeled Motorcycle Company Limited. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
- ↑ "Quadro to sell four wheeled tesseract-style motorcycle". Gizmag. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
The start-up is particularly exciting because the company is to be run by Luciano Marabese, the man who designed both the Piaggio MP3 three-wheeled scooter and the Yamaha Tesseract four-wheeled motorcycle shown in 2007.
- ↑ "Quadro. Pieghe a 4 ruote!". Moto.it. 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
[...]allo staff di Luciano Marabese si devono numerosissimi modelli di moto e scooter di successo, per la maggior parte appartenenti al Gruppo Piaggio, ma anche le stesse Moto Morini, le Beta Euro e Jonathan, le Triumph Urban Daytona, Speed Triple e Tiger 1050, la Yamaha MT-03 Café Motard e lo stesso, futuristico prototipo a quattro ruote Yamaha Tesseract.