Pay attention! Yamaha’s “TRICERA proto” is a new three-wheeled vehicle with independent steering for the front and rear wheels. [Japan Mobility Show 2025]

Yamaha’s vision for the future

Yamaha Motor will have an exhibition booth at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, showcasing 16 models, including six world premieres, under the theme of “Feel and Move.” Among them, the TRICERA proto, while treated as a “reference exhibit,” is attracting attention as a vehicle that clearly shows the direction Yamaha envisions for next-generation mobility.

This model is positioned not simply as a futuristic concept, but as a prototype for verifying the “joy of controlling” it, and its very existence suggests the possibility of future mass production and implementation.

Innovation in structure and control system

The TRICERA proto’s greatest feature is its three-wheel configuration and 3WS (three-wheel manual steering) mechanism, which allows for front and rear wheel steering. Unlike the steering feel of conventional motorcycles and automobiles, the front and rear wheels change angle in unison, achieving an extremely high level of cornering responsiveness. Yamaha explains that they pursued “the most fun cornering control” from the perspective of human research.

This structure is designed to allow the driver to feel a greater sense of unity between the “movement of the vehicle” and the “movement of the body” than ever before, bringing the feeling closer to “resonance” rather than “controlling.” Furthermore, the vehicle structure is different from conventional motorcycles and cars, with an arched center frame that juxtaposes functional space (drive structure) with human space (seats and operating systems), resulting in a design that emphasizes the three-wheel structure itself both visually and functionally.

Equipped with “αlive AD” to enhance sound and sensation

As mobility becomes increasingly electrified, one issue is that sensory stimuli such as engine noise and vibrations become diluted. In this regard, the TRICERA proto takes a unique approach to sound presentation, and is equipped with a sound device called “αlive AD.” By presenting the driving sound (drive sound) as a “joy of driving” rather than just noise, the aim is to amplify the sense of immersion and exhilaration when operating the vehicle.

By comprehensively integrating the body structure, steering system, and sound effects in this way, the TRICERA proto is designed to be more than just a means of transportation; it is an experience of controlling the vehicle.

Potential for future mobility

The TRICERA proto is currently just a “reference exhibit vehicle,” and the mass-production specifications have not been immediately revealed. However, its structure, presentation, and design are all attempts to embody Yamaha’s brand slogan, “Revs Your Heart,” in the next form of mobility.

The choice of three-wheel configuration aims to strike a balance between the agility and playfulness of two wheels and the stability and security of four wheels, and what’s unique about it is that it places the “fun to drive” at its core. As electrification advances, this mobility conveys the message of a shift from simply “being able to get around” to “being fun to drive.”

Additionally, by incorporating sound effects, Yamaha is able to create a sense of presence and excitement within the quietness that is unique to electric motors, exploring new user sensations.While it has not yet been decided whether this will be a mass-produced model, the direction indicated by the TRICERA proto will be an important key to understanding how Yamaha views future mobility.

This is a model worth paying attention to, as it will be interesting to see how it evolves in the future and whether it will pave the way for commercialization.