Toyota is teasing a high-performance version of the European-market Yaris, a successor to the Yaris GRMN that—based on this teaser image—will likely be dubbed the Toyota Yaris GR-4.
Pictured in similar camouflage as the GR Supra prototype wore during its drawn-out reveal process, the Yaris GR-4 appears to have a wider rear track and more aggressive aerodynamics than the standard car. According to Evo, that’s because it’s a homologation special for Gazoo Racing’s 2020 entry in the World Rally Championship, which we’ll likely see closer to the start of the next season.
To support that high-performance design brief, Evo reports that the Yaris GR-4 will have a new suspension design, new axles, and like we mentioned above, a wider rear track. Those changes were likely mandated by requirements for the rally car, but since they’re substantial modifications to the standard Yaris, Toyota will have to homologate the car by producing 25,000 road-going Yaris GR-4s in 2020.
Nobody seems to have details on the powertrain, but the name implies that the new performance version of the Yaris will be all-wheel drive. The Yaris is already available with all-wheel drive in Japan, so adapting that system for a rally homologation special makes sense.
GR Yaris Prototype. Live at Wedding Bells, Rally Australia. 17.11.19. #GR4 #GR Yaris #TGRWRT #ToyotaGAZOORacing #WRC pic.twitter.com/aEs3cMxsVQ
None of this is certain at the moment, though, as Toyota’s only official communication on the matter was a tweet with the teaser image and a reveal date of Nov. 11 at Rally Australia. The tweet was posted by both Gazoo Racing and Toyota Europe, but when asked for more information by Road & Track, Toyota declined to comment further.
Notably, it was not posted by any American Toyota accounts. The GR-4 also appears to be based on the European-market Yaris, which is entirely different from the Mazda-based Yaris sold here. If you’re an American hoping to get your hands on one, then, you’re probably out of luck for the next 25 years or so.
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