While there’s no shortage of legendary sports cars from the Japanese, only three sit in the territory of supercars. Two of these—the Toyota 2000GT and the Lexus LFA—were both co-developed with Yamaha. So, you might wonder, what if Yamaha decided to create a supercar of its own? Well, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer actually did in the 1990s, and most of us might never even have heard of it.
Yamaha Motorcycle Day 2025 was, for the most part, a gathering of riders and their beloved machines. I was happily admiring the classic bikes on display, when a cold start echoed from a distance. It was high-pitched and loud, but not as fine as the Lexus LFA. As a true gearhead, I approached the paddock only to be greeted by two identical yet unfamiliar cars.
As I got closer, I saw the badge on the rear bumper: Yamaha. Sure, the company is known for a wide range of products from motorcycles that win championships to musical instruments that fill concert halls, but a supercar? That’s something I’d never heard of, let alone seen. The idea may sound crazy, but there it was, sitting in front of me like a well-kept secret that finally was revealed. This wasn’t some kit car with a Yamaha engine underneath. It’s the OX99-11–one of the most ambitious projects ever attempted by a Japanese company.
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Back in the 1990s, Yamaha was actively involved in Formula 1, and it wanted to build its own road-going supercar. The result was the OX99-11. Under the hood is a Formula 1-derived 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V12. The engine was detuned to about 400hp, which is still a lot for the 1,000kg carbon-fiber body. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. I can only wonder what it feels like behind the wheel. Three pedals and a V12 screaming at the back. Good thing it did a couple of laps around the track, and boy, that V12 echoing through the paddocks? Pure mechanical symphony.
Its design is also supercar territory. The car sits low on the ground and unmistakably aerodynamic. The OX99-11 looks like it wasn’t meant for the streets. It doesn’t even have conventional doors on the sides; instead, it resembles a fighter jet-like canopy that lifts upward for entry. Inside, the seat position at the center is no gimmick either, since Yamaha wanted to give the driver the feeling of piloting a Formula 1 car. Or maybe an F16.
The OX99-11 seemed to be a promising car, but it fell victim to Japan’s economic crisis in the mid-1990s. Only three prototypes were ever built, and two of them showed up at the Yamaha Motorcycle Day 2025—a reminder of what could have been. The project may have been canceled, but it was a bold statement from Yamaha that it dreamt big—whether with musical instruments, motorcycles, or supercars. If it pushed the boundaries back then, who’s to say that the Japanese company wouldn’t do it again?
More photos of the Yamaha OX99-11 Project:
