What if Bugatti, Bentley, and Tesla designed motorcycles? Here’s a look at 6 concept renders

A lot of famous car-brands started off as motorcycle manufacturers who then took to the four-wheel market… BMW, Honda, Skoda, even Opel (remember Opel?) started their legacy on two wheels, before expanding to four. But what if more companies ventured into the motorcycle space just the way Dodge did with its wildly beautiful Tomahawk concept in 2003? Or the uber desirable 2014 LOTUS C-01? At Yanko, we don’t shy away from these bizarre questions… no, rather, we encourage them to fuel our fantasies. Here’s a look at 6 conceptual motorcycles from unlikely brands. These two-wheelers, however, don’t just slap logos onto designs and call it a day, they distill their respective brands’ automotive DNA into something that can be ported onto motorcycle-design. Let’s start with this conceptual Bugatti superbike, shown above.

Without question, the Bugatti Chiron is the ultimate record-breaking hypercar. The Chiron remains the fastest production vehicle in the world, and it’s also one of the most expensive cars on sale today. It’s only fitting that the Chiron be the benchmark for the motorcycle concept’s design… but not just any Chiron. No, this superbike pulls inspiration from the $19-million Bugatti La Voiture Noire. The result is ‘La Moto Noire,’ the fastest (and most expensive) superbike ever made. Bugatti’s iconic Horseshoe grille and C-line form parts of the front assembly and forks of the bike, while the wheels, headlights, and exposed carbon-fiber body panels are lifted directly from La Voiture Noire.


Combine the words Luxury, Comfort, and Motorcycle, and your mind is almost instantly drawn to a touring bike… which makes this type of two-wheeler the best choice for the next brand on this list – Bentley. With its design based on the iconic Bentayga SUV, the Bentley touring bike is a luxurious ride with limousine-like proportions. It offers generous seating for two, and the pair of large saddlebags offer enough cargo room for a short, weekend getaway. All the familiar Bentley styling cues are present, including twin round headlights and a massive front grille – the latter hides a large radiator to cool the bike’s massive V-Twin motor.


Yes, it’s true that Aston Martin HAS, in fact, forayed into the two-wheeler world with the slick, futuristic AMB 001… but can you really give it serious consideration, especially with its ridiculous $120,000 price tag?? This concept, on the other hand, is more targeted towards hitting the nostalgic nerve, with its retro café racer-inspired styling. For inspiration, the café racer looks to the magnificent DB4 GT Zagato Continuation model, a spectacular automotive gem from the good ol’ days of hand-formed metal and rich nostalgia. In terms of retro appeal, it’s hard to deny the DB4 GT Zagato’s meticulous coachwork. The Aston café racer inherited the gorgeous wired wheels and round headlight design of the DB4. It also has a bulbous gas tank, circular side mirrors, and a smallish windshield to complete the retro vibe.


Rivian is making ‘noise’ with its R1T electric pickup truck and R1S SUV. Both vehicles are destined to become the first all-electric off-roaders with genuinely rugged, go-anywhere capabilities. It was only natural that a Rivian motorbike would therefore reflect the future of dirt bikes or eMotorcross. Like the Rivian R1T, this dirt bike concept is all-electric with twin hub-mounted electric motors, a modest battery pack, off-road suspension, and regenerative charging technology. The simple, no-frills design is a definitive nod to the Rivian R1T’s utilitarian roots. And like the R1T, the Rivian dirt bike has oval stadium lights with LED headlamps and a smallish light bar. With only two wheels, the Rivian dirt bike is incapable of making a stationary ‘tank turn’ like the R1T pickup, but it still offers a massive grip and tons of torque to conquer the wild outdoors.


While the Japanese company is much better known for its iconic Lancer, or for the Eclipse or Evo GT, the company’s bread and butter are its practical subcompacts and SUVs… a result of it being partially acquired by Nissan back in 2016. Among the brand’s offerings is the Mitsubishi Mirage, one of the most fuel-efficient, non-hybrid vehicles in the market, capable of achieving 38-43 mpg even with a heavy lead foot. As such, the Mirage definitely has a strong scooter vibe, hence the creation of this Mitsubishi Scooter. Small in size yet packing a large seat, the Mitsubishi scooter has rugged tires, comfortable suspension, and a familiar Dynamic Shield face. And like the Mirage, it gets the job done with minimal fuss. It doesn’t have a dinky three-cylinder motor like the Mirage, but it does have a dinkier 1.0-liter, single-cylinder EFI engine, and a large gas tank to deliver exceptional mileage.



We cap this list with Tesla. I mean, come on… we weren’t going to include Rivian in this list but NOT include the OG electric brand, right? Based on the much-anticipated Tesla Roadster v2.0, this electric superbike goes as fast as it looks. But unlike the incoming Tesla Roadster with its curvy body, the Tesla sports bike has sharper lines akin to a Nighthawk stealth fighter. This conceptual e-beast has twin hub-mounted electric motors, air suspension, massive brakes, and a lower center of gravity. It’s not about how fast the Tesla Sports Bike can go, but how long you can hold on for dear life as you activate its Ludicrous Mode!


Designer: NeoMam Studios for Budget Direct.

Via: Budget Direct

Europe’s first electric cargo bus is made from renewable biodegradable resins + flax fibers!

The green revolution is slowly but surely picking up the pace! Meet Volta Zero – Europe’s first all-electric commercial cargo bus. Volta Trucks is the genius startup behind the creation of the Zero and you might also recognize them as Europe’s first commercial vehicle manufacturer to have a proprietary e-Axle electric drivetrain.

So what makes the Zero different from other electric vehicles? Well, for starters Zero’s e-Axle drivetrain comprises the electric motor, transmission, and axle in a single lightweight unit unlike the existing electric vehicles in the market. Another structural difference is that Zero’s modular lithium-ion phosphate battery pack is placed between the chassis rails which is the design blueprint that enables Volta to build custom trucks for any commercial purposes. “Commercial vehicles form the lifeblood of commerce and livelihoods in cities, but today’s large trucks dangerously impose themselves on our streets and dominate their surroundings. With the launch of Volta Zero, we are changing the face of road transport,” says Rob Fowler, CEO of Volta Trucks

For context, the Volta Zero is actually bigger than Rivian’s Amazon electric delivery van as it is almost 10-meters long and 3.5-meters in width. Zero’s body panels are crafted from renewable biodegradable resins and flax fibers to make it sustainable right from the manufacturing process to have a bigger impact. Swiss company Bcomp developed the body panels in collaboration with the European Space Agency and they are supposed to be as strong and light as carbon-fiber but uses 75% less CO2 to produce. The unique weave of the panels is processed using canola oil by British company Bamd. To make production sustainable is a breakthrough in itself! The Zero also features standard ADAS driving technology that includes active steering, reversing assistant, lane change assist, lane departure warning, and an A.I.-based vehicle monitoring system.

Volta Zero weighs close to 16 tons and has a unique driving position that gives the driver an edge when navigating a cargo bus in narrow streets. It has a swiveling driver’s chair is situated in the middle of the cabin which means having a 220-degree view of the outside environment – similar to what you see in a McLaren F1 or GMA T.50. The driver seat is also positioned to be 1.8-meters lower to the ground for better inter-city visibility. Zero’s large windows and 360-degree camera allow for easier maneuverability while eliminating blind spots around the truck for the driver. It has a top speed of 56 mph and comes equipped with a 160 to 200 kWh battery pack. Volta Zero has a 125 miles range with up to 37.3 cubic meters (1,317 cubic feet) of cargo space, the maximum payload capacity is 9.6 tons.

The prototype testing begins later next year and the first production units are expected to arrive in early or mid-2022 depending on how the pandemic progresses. This could be a game-changer for shipments worldwide since online shopping has only increased and will continue to do so in the future – this could be a solution that doesn’t hamper the economic demand while also making sure to minimize the impact on our planet.

Designer: Volta Trucks

Lincoln cancels its Rivian-based EV due to COVID-19

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to another car cancellation: Lincoln’s Rivian-based electric SUV. After a report in Automotive News, Lincoln has confirmed to Autoblog that the EV has been scrapped due to the “current environment.” The pandemic,...