Toyota is very serious about making a comeback in the "hard-core", sports car. After the Supra and the new GT86, the Japanese manufacturer is preparing a (really) hardcore version of the new Yaris, which will be coming to us in 2018 and will target the category of hothatch. The information that even speaks of a powerful GT-Four versionare just creepy. Think about it: a Yaris with all-wheel drive, turbo, bodykit and painted in WRC colours. A clone of the Yaris WRC...
Toyota confirmed via Twitter, that the presentation (for the first time after 17 years builds a car for the WRC) of Yaris WRC will have a direct impact and effect on creating a version of the Yaris with sporty orientation.
According to information from TopSpeed.gr, the hardcore Yaris, which will be called Yaris Gazoo and will be added to the line up of the new, international sport division of Toyota dealing with the faster versions of the brand.
So far, we know little, but... well. For example that the Yaris Gazoo will be available with a "separate bodykit" but also in one, specific colour. In both cases, we learn that the similarity with the racing Yaris will be "very close". We also know with certainty that the Yaris Gazoo will be unveiled in 2018, with the debut of the next generation model.
And as for the... really interesting? We've said before that the purpose of creating Gazoo (which already sells improved Toyotas, but only in Japan) as a separate division for European and the American market, is the offer of models of the brand that will on the one hand be "ready" in terms of tuning (Toyota has found with the GT86 that it loses a lot of money from its customers who want "something more" and break the warranty for that reason) and also to make direct referral in her involvement in the magical world of matches.
Akio Toyoda and the Yaris WRC.
From the first draft given to us by Toyota, we see the striking colours and the bodykit with aerodynamic aids, along with the ferocious rims. And, while we're sure it will be focused on... attacking closed, twisty bits, we wonder about the Engine. Here, the information is conflicting.
Authoritative sources, on the one hand, say that commercial target of the Yaris Gazoo will be the Ford Fiesta ST, adding that the Yaris Gazoo will most likely wear a 1600 turbo, yielding approximately 200 horsepower, will be front-wheel drive and will do the 0-100 sprint in just over 6 seconds.
But there is also the other information, which causes creepy: She states that, in the context of the petitions of the Akio Toyoda that the company is working on projects that will prove that Toyota makes fun to drive carshere comes a surprise:
That you used a downgraded version of the engine which will drive the Yaris WRC (1.6 turbo four-cylinder 380 hp) in combination with hybrid system and transmission of the four-wheel drive. And that it will be launched as "successor" of the legacy left by the legendary Celica GT-4. And that's why Toyota, in the presentation of the Yaris WRC, made so many references to the Celica. Do it, Toyoda-san! Our Trellana...
Tip1: Something you may not have known is that the first generation of the Yaris was designed by a Greek, S. Kovos.
Tip2: Read here what Gazoo has in store for the next generation GT86.
Tip3: We know you'll be "running" to YouTube right now, searching for Toyota Celica GT-4.
