Back in January 2025, Yamaha showed off a new concept line of EVs that it was bringing to the masses attending Tokyo Auto Salon 2025. At the time, I was admittedly quite preoccupied with a little quad meant to channel design inspiration from the Kenny Roberts two-stroke racing era, and how it bore a slight resemblance to a model train. And also, this little cyberpod-esque thing.
I regret to inform you that I neglected to mention something very important when I wrote that up. Something that I overlooked at the time, but that I'm about to rectify right now.
See, Yamaha decided to call its entire modular EV line by the name "Diapason." If you speak French or Italian, you already know why that's funny and/or clever, depending on your point of view. What's Yamaha's logo? Tuning forks. Besides its association with pipe organs, what does the word 'diapason' mean in both Italian and French? You guessed it: Tuning fork. Well played, Team Blue. Well played, just like that pipe organ or any of those many musical instruments made by a completely different branch of the company.
