Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.(ヤマハ phát động cơ kabushiki gaisha,Yamaha HatsudōkiKabushiki gaisha)is a Japanese mobility manufacturer that produces motorcycles,motorboats,outboard motors, and other motorized products. The company was established in the year 1955 upon separation from Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. (currentlyYamaha Corporation) and is headquartered inIwata,Shizuoka,Japan. The company conducts development, production and marketing operations through 109 consolidated subsidiaries as of 2012.[2][3]
 | |
Native name | ヤマハ phát động cơ kabushiki gaisha |
|---|---|
Romanizedname | Yamaha Hatsudōki Kabushiki-gaisha |
| Company type | Public |
| TYO:7272 | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1 May 1955 |
| Founder | Genichi Kawakami |
| Headquarters | , Japan |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Hiroyuki Yanagi (chairman& Representative Director) Yoshihiro Hidaka(president& Representative Director) |
| Products | Motorcycles,commuter vehicles &scooters,recreational vehicles, boats, marine engines, small tractors,personal watercraft,electrically power assisted bicycles, automobile engines,golf carts,cycling components |
| Revenue | 2,414,759,000,000 yen (2023) |
| Owners |
|
Number of employees | 52,664 (as of December 31, 2014) |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Website | global |
Led byGenichi Kawakami,the company's founder and first president, Yamaha Motor spun off from musical instrument manufacturerYamaha Corporationin 1955 and began production of its first product, the YA-1 125cc motorcycle. It was quickly successful and won the 3rdMount FujiAscent Race in its class.
The company's products includemotorcycles,scooters,motorized bicycles,boats,sail boats,personal water craft,swimming pools,utility boats,fishing boats,outboard motors, 4-wheelATVs,recreationaloff-road vehicles,go-kartengines,golf carts,multi-purpose engines,electrical generators,water pumps,automobile engines,surface mounters, intelligent machinery, electrical power units forwheelchairsandhelmets.The company is also involved in the import and sale of various types of products, the development of tourist businesses, and the management of leisure, recreational facilities and related services. Yamaha's motorcycle sales are the second largest in the world[4]and Yamaha is the world leader in water vehicle sales.[5]
History
editParent company
editNippon Gakki Co., Ltd (currentlyYamaha Corporation) was founded byTorakusu Yamahain 1887 to manufacturereed organsandpianosand became the largest Japanese manufacturer of musical instruments in the early 20th Century. Yamaha was contracted to manufacture wooden and (later) metal airplanepropellersby the Japanese government duringWorld War II.The company struggled in the aftermath of the war, and in the early 1950s, chairmanGenichi Kawakamidecided to repurpose its underutilized war-time facilities to manufacture small motorcycles for leisure use.[6]
Beginnings: 1955
editThe motorcycle division of Yamaha was spun off in 1955, being incorporated on 1 July 1955 in Japan,[7]and was headed by Genichi Kawakami. Yamaha's initial product was a 125 cc (7.6 cu in)two-stroke,single cylinder motorcycle, theYA-1,which was a copy of the GermanDKW RT 125.The YA-1 was a competitive success at racing from the beginning, winning not only the 125cc class in the Mt. Fuji Ascent, but also sweeping the podium with first, second and third place in the All Japan Autobike Endurance Road Race that same year.[8]Early success in racing set the tone for Yamaha, as competition in many varieties of motorcycle racing has been a key endeavor of the company throughout its history, often fueled by a strong rivalry withHonda,Suzuki,Kawasaki,and other Japanese manufacturers.
Yamaha began competing internationally in 1956 when they entered the Catalina Grand Prix, again with the YA-1, at which they placed sixth. The YA-1 was followed by the YA-2 of 1957, another 125cc two stroke, but with significantly improved frame and suspension.[9]The YD-1 of 1957 was a 250cc two-stroke twin cylinder motorcycle, resembling the YA-2, but with a larger and more powerful motor. A performance version of this bike, the YDS-1 housed the 250cc two-stroke twin in a double downtube cradle frame and offered the first five-speed transmission in a Japanese motorcycle.[10]This period also saw Yamaha offer its first outboard marine engine.
Success and growth in the 1970s
editBy 1963, Yamaha's dedication to both the two-stroke engine and racing paid off with their first victory in international competition, at the Belgian GP, where they won the 250cc class. Success in sales was even more impressive, and Yamaha set up the first of its international subsidiaries in this period beginning with Thailand in 1964, and the Netherlands in 1968. 1965 saw the release of a 305cc two-stroke twin, the flagship of the company's lineup. It featured a separate oil supply which directly injected oil into the gasoline prior to combustion (traditionally riders had to pre-mix oil into gasoline together before filling the gas tank on two stroke engines). In 1967 a new larger displacement model was added to the range, the 350cc two stroke twin R-1.
In 1968, Yamaha launched their first four-stroke motorcycle, theXS-1/650which was a 650cc four-stroke twin, a larger and more powerful machine that equaled the displacement and performance of the popular British bikes of the era, such as the Triumph Bonneville and BSA Gold Star. Yamaha continued on with both the two-stroke line and four-stroke twins at a time that other Japanese manufacturers were increasingly moving to four cylinder four-stroke machines, a trend led byHondain 1969 with the legendaryCB750four-stroke four-cylinder cycle.
Two stroke era begins: the 1970s
editIn early 1969, Yamaha added reed-valve induction to its previously piston-ported designs to produce the twin-cylinderRDand single-cylinderRSfamilies, with variants in a number of capacities. There was a persistent, but apocryphal, rumour to the effect that "RD" indicatedrace developed.In fact, "R" appears to have indicatedreed valved,"D" the twin (ordouble) cylinder models and "S" the single-cylinder models. The RD family would be developed through the 1970s and 1980s, gaining solid wheels, water-cooling, YPVS, and other newer technology 'til they had little in common with the original variants (before being supplanted by the TZR). The RS family was produced for many years in a large number of variants by Yamaha and thenEscorts Limitedin India without losing its resemblance to its progenitors. In addition to the RD and RS standards, Yamaha also manufactured small standards with stamped steel frames and rotary disc-valved motors such as theYamaha FS1,and step-through V-50 and V-80 designs. Its Enduro trail bike was replaced by the DT models. Not until 1976 would Yamaha answer the other Japanese brands with a multi-cylinder four stroke of their own. TheXS-750(and later 850) a 750cc triple cylinder machine with shaft final drive was introduced almost seven years after Honda's breakthrough bike. Yamaha's first four-cylinder model, theXS-1100followed in 1978, again with shaft drive.[11]Despite being heavier and more touring oriented than its rivals it produced an impressive string of victories in endurance racing.
The 1970s also saw some of the first dedicated off-road bikes for off-road racing and recreation. Yamaha was an early innovator in dirt-bike technology, and introduced the first single-shock rear suspension, the trademarked "Monoshock" of 1973.[12]It appeared in production on the 1974 Yamaha YZ-250, a model which is still in production, making it Yamaha's longest continuous model and name.
Yamaha continued racing throughout the 1960s and 1970s with increasing success in several formats. The decade of the 1970s was capped by theXT500winning the firstParis-Dakar Rallyin 1979.[13]
1980s: diversification and innovation
edit
By 1980 the combination of consumer preference and environmental regulation made four strokes increasingly popular. Suzuki ended production of theirGT two stroke series,including the flagship water-cooled two-stroke 750cc GT-750 in 1977. Kawasaki, who had considerable success throughout the 1970s with theirtwo-stroke triplesof 250cc, 350cc, 400cc, 500cc and 750cc ended production of road-going two strokes in 1980. Yamaha bucked this trend and continued to refine and sell two-strokes for the street into the 1980s. These bikes were performance oriented, water-cooled twin cylinder machines, designed to achieve excellent performance taking advantage of the lower weight of two strokes. The RZ-250 of 1980[14]was the progenitor of this series. TheRZ-350,the largest displacement model, was a popular hot-rod bike of the 1980s and continued to be sold in some countries into the early 1990s.
Throughout the 1980s the motorcycle industry gradually went from building a few basic but versatile models designed to work well in many roles, to offering many more specialized machines designed to excel in particular niches. These included racing and performance street riding, touring, motocross racing, enduro and recreational off-road riding, and cruising. Yamaha branched out from the relatively small number of UJMs (Universal Japanese Motorcycle) at the start of the decade to a much larger set of offerings in several clearly defined markets at the end of the decade.
The XV750 of 1981 featured an air-cooled V-twin four-stroke engine and cruiser styling, and was one of the first Japanese cruiser style motorcycles. By the end of the 1980s Yamaha had offered dozens of cruiser styled bikes in a variety of displacements and engine configurations.
The RZV500 was one of the first "repli-racers", a near copy of Kenny Roberts competition GP bike, it featured a liquid-cooled two-stroke motor of 500cc displacement in a V4 configuration, along with a perimeter frame and full fairing.[15]
A more popular and practical high-performance model for the street was introduced in 1985, theFZ750.It was an innovative 750cc four-stroke inline four cylinder model. It was the first motorcycle to feature a five-valve cylinder head, something Yamaha became well known for. It also featured a cylinder block canted forward at 45 degrees, and a box-section steel perimeter frame. Production of the FZ continued until 1991.
Another bike that was performance-oriented was theYamaha RX-Z,introduced in 1985 as a two-stroke naked sport bike, related to theYamaha RX-135and Yamaha RD-135, borrowing its chassis and platform. Originally equipped with a five speed transmission and a solid front disc brake rotor with rear drum brakes, it was popular in Malaysia and Singapore. After a few years on the market, the engine was upgraded with the installation of a six-speed transmission, together with a newer instrument panel and handlebar switches, as well as a cross-drilled front disc brake rotor, while the rear remained with the drum brakes. The design was unchanged until it was updated in 2004, with the rear lights being borrowed by theYamaha Y125Zand a new headlight. It was also installed with a catalytic converter, which reduced its horsepower to 19bhp. However, the maximum torque remained unchanged but the low-end torque was improved compared to the early models. Some owners of the earlier RX-Z motorcycles may have problems during take-off because the engine tends to stall when an inexperienced rider tries to take off in the first gear. However, the problem was resolved in the new model. In Malaysia, this bike was associated with street racers and was featured in many Malay movies. In 2011, after 26 years, it was discontinued.
The 1990s: Performance bikes and a spin-off brand
editIn 1998 Yamaha marketed a 1000cc four cylinder road bike called theYZF 'R1',this model introduced a new style of gearbox design which shortened the overall length of the motor/gearbox case, to allow a more compact unit. This, in turn allowed the motor to be placed in the frame further forward, designed to improve handling in a short wheel-based frame.[16]
In 1995, Yamaha announced the creation ofStar Motorcycles,a new brand name for its cruiser series of motorcycles in the American market. In other markets, Star motorcycles are still sold under the Yamaha brand. This was an attempt to create a brand identity more closely aligned with the cruiser market segment, one of the largest and most lucrative in the US.
The 2000s: Expansion and consolidation
editIn 2007, Yamaha established thePhilippineoperations and distributes Yamaha motorcycles under the corporate name of Yamaha Motor Philippines, Inc., one of more than 20 worldwide subsidiaries operating on all continents.
In 2015, Yamaha investedUS$150 millionin Pakistan to set up a plant atPort Qasim,Karachi.[17][18]
Yamaha purchased small engine makerSubaru Industrial Power ProductsfromSubaruin October 2017. Subaru's engines powered lawnmowers, generators and water pumps and have since been rebranded as Yamaha.[citation needed]
Yamaha and Volvo co-developed the B8444S V8 engine for Volvo vehicles from 2005 to 2016.[citation needed]
Motorcycle racing highlights
edit
Inmotorcycle racingYamaha has won 39 world championships, including seven inMotoGPand 10 in the preceding 500 cc two-stroke class, and two inWorld Superbike.In addition Yamaha have recorded 210 victories at theIsle of Man TT[19]and head the list of victories at theSidecar TTwith 40.[19]Past Yamaha riders include:Jarno Saarinen,Giacomo Agostini,Bob Hannah,Heikki Mikkola,Bruce Anstey,Kenny Roberts,Eddie Lawson,Wayne Rainey,Jeremy McGrath,Stefan Merriman,Dave Molyneux,Ian Hutchinson,Phil Read,Chad Reed,Ben Spies,Jorge Lorenzo,and nine-time world championValentino Rossi.
TheYamaha YZ450Fwon theAMA Supercross Championshiptwo years in a row, in 2008 with Chad Reed, and 2009 James Stewart. Yamaha was the first to build a productionmonoshockmotocrossbike (1975 for 250 and 400, 1976 for 125) and one of the first to have a water-cooled motocross production bike (1977 in works bikes, 1981 in off-the-shelf bikes). Yamaha's first Motocross competition four-stroke bike, the YZ400F, won the 1998 USA outdoor national Championship with factory rider Doug Henry.
Since 1962, Yamaha made production road racingGrand Prixmotorcycles that any licensed road racer could purchase. In 1970, non-factory privateer teams dominated the 250 cc World Championship with Great Britain'sRodney Gouldwinning the title on aYamaha TD2.
Yamaha also sponsors several professional ATV riders in several areas of racing, such as cross country racing and motocross. Yamaha has had success in cross country with their YFZ450, ridden by Bill Ballance, winning 9 straight titles since 2000. Yamaha's other major rider, Traci Cecco, has ridden the YFZ450 to 7 titles, with the first in 2000. In ATV motocross, Yamaha has had success with Dustin Nelson and Pat Brown, both who race the YFZ450. Pat Brown's best season was a 3rd place title in 2007, while Nelson has had two 1st place titles in the Yamaha/ITP Quadcross, one in 2006 and the other in 2008.
In 2021, Yamaha has won several competitions, such as British Superbike withTarran Mackenzie,MotoAmerica withJake Gagne,MFJ Superbike withKatsuyuki Nakasuga,WorldSSP withDominique Aegerter,and several other competitions.
Their 2022MotoGPlineup wasFabio QuartararoandFranco Morbidelli,continuing in 2023. The 2022 world superbikes team wasToprak RazgatlıoğluandAndrea Locatelli,continuing in 2023. Yamaha'sSuperbike World Championshipteam since 2016 has been delivered by Crescent Racing.[20]
World Superbike
editThis section needs to beupdated.(April 2020) |
| 2024name | Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK |
|---|---|
| Base | Shizuoka,Japan |
| Team principal/s | Paul Denning, Project Director Team Manager |
| Race riders | 55 Andrea Locatelli65  Jonathan Rea |
| Motorcycle | Yamaha YZF-R1(2019→) |
| Tyres | Pirelli |
| Riders' Championships | 2009Ben Spies 2021Toprak Razgatlıoğlu |
The first Yamaha rider to ever win a World Superbike wasBen Spiesin2009.Then in2021,Toprak Razgatlıoğlumanaged to become world champion.
By season results
edit(key) (Races inboldindicate pole position; races initalicsindicate fastest lap)
*Season still in progress.
Formula One
edit| Formula OneWorld Championship career | |
|---|---|
| First entry | 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1997 European Grand Prix |
| Races entered | 130 (116 starts) |
| Chassis | Zakspeed,Brabham,Jordan,Tyrrell,Arrows |
| Constructors' Championships | 0 |
| Drivers' Championships | 0 |
| Race victories | 0 |
| Podiums | 2 |
| Points | 36 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
Yamaha produced Formula One engines from 1989 to 1997 (with a one-year break in 1990), initially for theZakspeedteam, in 1991 for theBrabham BT60Y,in 1992 for theJordan 192,from 1993 to 1996 forTyrrell,and in 1997 for theArrows A18.The Yamaha engines never won a race (Damon Hillnearly did so at the1997 Hungarian Grand Prix). Drivers including Damon Hill,Ukyo Katayama,Mark BlundellandMika Saloscored some acceptable results with Blundell achieving a surprise 3rd place at the1994 Spanish Grand Prixand Hill with 2nd at the aforementioned 1997 Hungarian Grand Prix. This partly was considered to be due to Yamaha collaborating with theJohn Judd Engine Organizationto create a better and reliable engine. However, there were questions raised as to whether the Yamaha engines used from 1993 to 1997 were just Judd engines with Yamaha branding.
1994 was considered to be Yamaha's most successful year in terms of points accrued. Apart from the podium achieved by Blundell in Spain, the Yamaha engine in the Tyrrell Car achieved 4 fifth place finishes and 1 sixth place finish over the course of the season. However, due to the inconsistency of the engine over the years, they were often unreliable and were usually regarded as not very powerful. The Yamaha engines never secured a fastest lap or pole position despite being on the grid for nearly a decade.
After the conclusion of the 1997 Formula One season, Yamaha decided to pull out of the sport. A possible reason for this was due to a disagreement with Arrows regarding the 1998 engine's identification. Yamaha wished to carry out work on the engine with their engineers, while Arrows wished for their own engineers to work on the engine instead, while still having it badged as a Yamaha engine.
Formula One World Championship results
edit(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | West Zakspeed Racing | Zakspeed 891 | Yamaha OX88 3.5V8 | P | BRA | SMR | MON | MEX | USA | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | ESP | JPN | AUS | 0 | NC | ||
 Bernd Schneider
|
Ret | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | Ret | DNPQ | ||||||||
 Aguri Suzuki
|
DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | ||||||||
| 1991 | Motor Racing Developments | Brabham BT59Y Brabham BT60Y |
Yamaha OX99 3.5V12 | P | USA | BRA | SMR | MON | CAN | MEX | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | ESP | JPN | AUS | 3 | 9th | ||
| Martin Brundle
|
11 | 12 | 11 | EX | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | 9 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 5 | DNQ | ||||||||
| Mark Blundell
|
Ret | Ret | 8 | Ret | DNQ | Ret | Ret | Ret | 12 | Ret | 6 | 12 | Ret | Ret | DNPQ | 17 | ||||||||
| 1992 | Sasol Jordan Yamaha | Jordan 192 | Yamaha OX99 3.5V12 | G | RSA | MEX | BRA | ESP | SMR | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | JPN | AUS | 1 | 11th | ||
| Stefano Modena
|
DNQ | Ret | Ret | DNQ | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | DNQ | Ret | 15 | DNQ | 13 | 7 | 6 | ||||||||
 Maurício Gugelmin
|
11 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 15 | 10 | 14 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | ||||||||
| 1993 | Tyrrell Racing Organisation | Tyrrell 020C Tyrrell021 |
Yamaha OX10A3.5V10 | G | RSA | BRA | EUR | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | JPN | AUS | 0 | NC | ||
| Ukyo Katayama
|
Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 17 | Ret | 13 | Ret | 10 | 15 | 14 | Ret | Ret | Ret | ||||||||
| Andrea de Cesaris
|
Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | DSQ | 10 | Ret | 15 | NC | Ret | 11 | Ret | 13 | 12 | Ret | 13 | ||||||||
| 1994 | Tyrrell Racing Organisation | Tyrrell 022 | Yamaha OX10B3.5V10 | G | BRA | PAC | SMR | MON | ESP | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | EUR | JPN | AUS | 13 | 7th | ||
| Ukyo Katayama
|
5 | Ret | 5 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 6 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | Ret | Ret | ||||||||
| Mark Blundell
|
Ret | Ret | 9 | Ret | 3 | 10 | 10 | Ret | Ret | 5 | 5 | Ret | Ret | 13 | Ret | Ret | ||||||||
| 1995 | Nokia Tyrrell Yamaha | Tyrrell 023 | Yamaha OX10C3.0V10 | G | BRA | ARG | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | EUR | PAC | JPN | AUS | 5 | 8th | |
| Ukyo Katayama
|
Ret | 8 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | Ret | Ret | 10 | Ret | 14 | Ret | Ret | ||||||||
| Gabriele Tarquini
|
14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Mika Salo
|
7 | Ret | Ret | 10 | Ret | 7 | 15 | 8 | Ret | Ret | 8 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 5 | |||||||
| 1996 | Tyrrell Yamaha | Tyrrell 024 | Yamaha OX11A3.0V10 | G | AUS | BRA | ARG | EUR | SMR | MON | ESP | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | JPN | 5 | 8th | ||
| Ukyo Katayama
|
11 | 9 | Ret | DSQ | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | Ret | ||||||||
| Mika Salo
|
6 | 5 | Ret | DSQ | Ret | 5 | DSQ | Ret | 10 | 7 | 9 | Ret | 7 | Ret | 11 | Ret | ||||||||
| 1997 | Danka Arrows Yamaha | Arrows A18 | Yamaha OX11C/D3.0V10 | B | AUS | BRA | ARG | SMR | MON | ESP | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | AUT | LUX | JPN | EUR | 9 | 8th | |
| Damon Hill
|
DNS | 17 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 9 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 13 | Ret | 7 | 8 | 12 | Ret | |||||||
| Pedro Diniz
|
10 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | Ret | 13 | 5 | 13 | Ret |
Formula E
editIn March 2024, it was announcedLola Carswill enterFormula Ein the2024–25 seasonas a powertrain supplier in a technical partnership with Yamaha.[21][22]A month later, Lola-Yamaha securedAbtFormula E Team as its first powertrain customer for the 2024–25 season, with the team entering the season as Lola Yamaha Abt Formula E Team.[23][24]
Products
editOverview
editYamaha Motor is a highly diversified company which produces products for a large number of industries and consumer market segments:
- Motorcycles:Sport bikes,StarCruiser bikes,trail bikes, road racers and motocross racers
- Snowmobiles
- Commuter vehicles, including scooters
- Boats: Powerboats,sailboats(e.g.Yamaha 26,a sailboat produced in the 1970s), utility boats and custom boats
- Marine engines: Outboard motors, electric marine motors, marine diesel engines andstern drives[25]
- Personal watercraft – seeWaveRunner
- Electric bicycles
- Automobile engines
- Industrial-use unmannedhelicopters
- Golf cars
- Power products:generators,multipurpose engines, water pumps andsnow throwers
- Swimming pools,watersliders and pool-related equipment
- Intelligent machinery, including compactindustrial robots
- Electric wheelchairsand wheelchair electric drive units
- Yamaha parts and accessories, apparel, cycle helmets andmotor oil[26]
- Industrial robotsandsurface mounters[27]
-
Yamaha Aerox Scooter -
Yamaha YZF-R1Superbike -
Yamaha Waverunner -
Yamaha Nytro Snowmobile -
-
Yamaha YXZ 1000RUTV -
Yamaha Golf Car -
Yamaha Inflatable Boat -
Yamaha Outboard Motor
Automobile engines
edit
Yamaha has built engines for other manufacturers' vehicles beginning with the development and production of theToyota 2000GT(1967). The cylinder head from theToyota 4A-GEengine was developed by Yamaha and built at Toyota's Shimayama plant alongside the 4A and 2A engines.[28]
In 1984, executives of the Yamaha Motor Corporation signed a contract with theFord Motor Companyto develop, produce, and supply compact 60°3.0 Liter DOHC V6engines fortransverseapplication for the 1989–95Ford Taurus SHO.[29][30]From 1993 to 1995, the SHO engine was produced in 3.0 and 3.2 Liter versions. Yamaha jointly designed the3.4 Liter DOHC V-8engine with Ford for the 1996–99 SHO. Ford and Yamaha also developed theZetec-SEbranded 4-cylinder engines used in several Ford cars like the small sports carFord Puma.
From 2005 to 2010, Yamaha produced a 4.4 Litre V8 forVolvo.TheB8444Sengines were used in theXC90andS80models, whilst also adapted to 5.0L configuration for Volvo's foray into theV8 Supercarswith theS60.British sportscar makerNoblealso uses a bi-turbo version of the Volvo V8 in theirM600.
All performance-oriented cylinder heads on Toyota/Lexusengines were designed and/or built by Yamaha. Some examples are the1LR-GUEengine found on the 2010–2012Lexus LFA,the2UR-GSEfound inLexus ISF,the3S-GTEengine found on theToyota MR2andToyota Celica GT4/All-Trac,the2ZZ-GEengine found on the 1999–2006Toyota CelicaGT-S andLotus EliseSeries 2, and the Toyota4GR-FSEengine found on the Lexus IS250.[31]
Yamaha also tunes engines for manufacturers, such as Toyota, so Yamaha logos are onToyota S engines.[32]
Yamaha also tried to produce a supercar in the 1990s, named theYamaha OX99-11.It was made as a supercar to have a Yamaha Formula 1 engine as its powerplant and have Formula 1 technology in it. Even though their engines did not win a Grand Prix, by 1991 the team had produced a new engine, the OX99, and approached a German company to design an initial version of the car. Yamaha was not pleased with the result as it was too similar to sport cars of that time, so it contactedIADto continue working on the project. By the beginning of 1992, just under 12 months after starting to work on the project, IAD came with an initial version of the car. The car's design was undertaken by Takuya Yura, and was originally conceived as a single seater; however, Yamaha requested a two-seater vehicle and a tandem seating arrangement was suggested which was in keeping with Yamaha's motorcycle expertise. This resulted in a radical and somewhat outrageous design based on Group C cars of the time, with features such as the cockpit-locking roof. It also shared the same chassis as the Formula 1 car, to try to give the consumer market a pure Formula 1 experience. Eventually disagreements with IAD over the budget made Yamaha take the project to its own Ypsilon Technology which was given six months to finish the project, otherwise it would be terminated. To make matters worse, Japan was in the midst of an economic downturn, which made Yamaha believe there would be no customers for the car, and so the project was cancelled in 1994 after many delays, with only 3 prototypes in existence.
Concept cars
editBeginning in 2013 Yamaha revealed a series of concept cars developed in collaboration withGordon MurrayDesign utilizing the company's iStream design process. The first concept, named the MOTIV, was revealed at the 43rdTokyo Motor Showin 2013. The MOTIV was a compact city car designed to accommodate gasoline engines, EV drivetrains, hybrid systems, and range extenders.[33]
The second concept, the Sports Ride Concept, was revealed at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show in 2015. The concept was a lightweight two-seat sports car that drew inspiration from the company's motorcycles.[34]
The third concept, the Cross Hub Concept, was revealed at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show in 2017. The Cross Hub was acoupé utilitywith a diamond-shaped sitting arrangement to allow it to carry two motorcycles in the bed while retaining compact dimensions for urban use.[35]
Yamaha confirmed at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show in 2019 that cars were no longer in the company's plans.[36][37]
References
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- ^"Yamaha Motor Establishes Highly Profitable Business Structure".businesswire.February 9, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 15,2017.
- ^"Yamaha Motor Establishes Highly Profitable Business Structure".finance.yahoo.RetrievedFebruary 15,2017.
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- ^"Yamaha, marine business earns earnest and leverages motorcycle know-how".nikkei.Nihon Keizai Shimbun.September 17, 2013.
- ^Hays, Constance L. (May 28, 2002)."Genichi Kawakami, 90, Dies; Led Yamaha's Big Expansion".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 19,2022.
- ^"Yamaha Day 2020 | Yamaha Motor Australia".yamaha-motor.au.RetrievedDecember 16,2020.
- ^"Yamaha Motorcycles and Brand History".autoevolution.SoftNews NET.RetrievedJanuary 15,2015.
- ^"Yamaha Showroom Communication Plaza Collection".yamaha-motor.Yamaha Motors.RetrievedJanuary 15,2015.
- ^"Yamaha Collection – YDS-1".Yamaha-Motor.RetrievedJanuary 15,2015.
- ^"Yamaha Collections: XS-1100".yamaha-motor.Yamaha Motors.RetrievedJanuary 16,2015.
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