Yamaha tunes cars for the factory?

[Morehart]

Pretty interesting, my favorite and longest lasting dirtbikes were yamaha.
The fact that they still build 2 strokes is awesome. There hpdi outboards absolutely make power.

 

[TPC]

Yamaha was part of the FORD SHO performance engine program but dropped out for some reason.

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[Sleek-Jet]

I was going to mention the SHOgun Taurus. I owned one back in the 90's and for the time it was definite sleeper. Yamaha partnered with Ford and built the top end of the engine around a relatively stock Ford 3.0 V6 block. The engine was a free revving fun machine. I loved that car, kind of wish I still had one, but that would probably kill the romance of my memories.

 

[Paradox]

I was going to mention the SHOgun Taurus. I owned one back in the 90's and for the time it was definite sleeper. Yamaha partnered with Ford and built the top end of the engine around a relatively stock Ford 3.0 V6 block. The engine was a free revving fun machine. I loved that car, kind of wish I still had one, but that would probably kill the romance of my memories.

I had one in 1989, the 1st year of production. Ordered it months ahead of time.

You’re right about killing the romance. Although I really thought it was the shit back in the day, the reality was it was a 7 second zero to 60 car that went through clutches every 10,000 miles or so.

 

[lbhsbz]

Yamaha has been involved in lots of automotive stuff. IIRC, they also has a hand in building the cylinder heads for the Celica GT-S in 2000-2005

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I had one in 1989, the 1st year of production. Ordered it months ahead of time.

You’re right about killing the romance. Although I really thought it was the shit back in the day, the reality was it was a 7 second zero to 60 car that went through clutches every 10,000 miles or so.

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I had a 92, first year of the face lift and the last year before the automatic was offered. I never had to put a clutch in it though. It was one of the most reliable cars I've owned and ran well.

 

[Apex svt]

Yamaha was part of the FORD SHO performance engine program but dropped out for some reason.

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Wasn’t that the engine that had the “pressed” cam gears that would fail allowing the pistons to have a party with the valves?

That could be a reason. I think the fix was to weld them together.

 

[Blue Oval]

The wife had a 93 automatic SHO. Drove it for a couple years. Sold it to a good friend. Becky drove that car for years. It was a good car, never had any issues with it.

 

[rrrr]

I was going to mention the SHOgun Taurus. I owned one back in the 90's and for the time it was definite sleeper. Yamaha partnered with Ford and built the top end of the engine around a relatively stock Ford 3.0 V6 block. The engine was a free revving fun machine. I loved that car, kind of wish I still had one, but that would probably kill the romance of my memories.

I had forgotten about the SHO Taurus. One late night in the early 90s at the Avis or National (don't remember which) Newark airport car rental desk, I was handed the keys to an all black and sinister looking Ford. Huh? What's this?

It was a potent package (for the time) and a blast to drive. There's nothing more fun than flogging a rental rocket!

 

[ChrisV]

They also built the second gen toyota mr2 motors. 3SGTE

 

[Paradox]

I had a 92, first year of the face lift and the last year before the automatic was offered. I never had to put a clutch in it though. It was one of the most reliable cars I've owned and ran well.

I was in my late 20s at the time and was known for 1/4 block long front wheel burn outs. Likely explains the frequent clutch replacements.

 

[sintax]

They also built the second gen toyota mr2 motors. 3SGTE

They also built the Lotus (toyota) 2ZZ-GE engines as well

I feel like they also had some involvement w/ the Lotus Esprit V8 also

 

[C-2]

Admittedly off topic, but their audio equipment is super bad ass too. Carry on

 

[Sharky]

Admittedly off topic, but their audio equipment is super bad ass too. Carry on

Indeed!!!

I still have my Yamaha RX-Z1 receiver and Yamaha B5 amp

 

[Morehart]

A couple years ago I was pulling of the 101 through Westlake village and heard what I thought was a f1 car downshifting. At the off ramp there was a yellow Lexus fla. When the light turned green that thing sounded amazing.
Also never new what the Yamaha emblem stood for. 3 tuning forks in in synch. Pretty cool

 

[JDKRXW]

They also built the Lotus (toyota) 2ZZ-GE engines as well

I feel like they also had some involvement w/ the Lotus Esprit V8 also

Largest shareholder in Yamaha is the Bank of Japan. Second largest is Toyota at almost 4%.
As I understand it, Toyota has owned up to 20+% at times.
Ever see a Yamaha product adverisment with a car or truck in the background -- and it's not a Toyota?

 

[17 10 Flat]

I was going to mention the SHOgun Taurus. I owned one back in the 90's and for the time it was definite sleeper. Yamaha partnered with Ford and built the top end of the engine around a relatively stock Ford 3.0 V6 block. The engine was a free revving fun machine. I loved that car, kind of wish I still had one, but that would probably kill the romance of my memories.

Had one a well, weak link was the crap transmission. Fun to drive though. Really needed a manual and AWD.

 

[Sharky]

Old Yamaha history. . . .

Team colors now are blue.

They used to be yellow & black.

Anybody else know what they where before yellow & black?

 

[C-2]

I'll give it a stab without cheating... red and white like their flag?

 

[Morehart]

I'll give it a stab without cheating... red and white like their flag?

Correct. And black and aluminum

 

[lbhsbz]

Also never knew what the Yamaha emblem stood for. 3 tuning forks in in synch. Pretty cool

That’s cuz they started out making badass pianos. lol

 

[C-2]

Indeed!!!

I still have my Yamaha RX-Z1 receiver and Yamaha B5 amp

That's a bad ass amp. Rivermobster hooked me up with his old Yammy MX600u amp and since then I acquired an M-45 amp and a prized C-85 preamp. I'm currently eyeballing another M-65 amp!

 

[Morehart]

That’s cuz they started out making badass pianos. lol

Tuning tuning. Precision is performance. There is nothing like a perfectly tuned motor that doesn't skip a beat from the drop to redline.

 

[Dkahnjob]

I have a Lexus LC500 and the engine is built by Yamaha, It is a 5 L V-8 dual overhead cam, 4 valves per cylinder.
471 HP 7,000 RPM. It is a very sweet, strong running package.

 

[rrrr]

The 1974 Yamaha 250 Enduro was a great combi, before combis became a thing.