Digital Trends
Cars

Toyota’s turbo Yaris will have the VW Polo GTI and the Ford Fiesta ST in its crosshairs

Ronan Glon
By —

Toyota Yaris-R Hybrid concept
Toyota is making a long-awaited return to WRC racing in 2017 with a heavily-modified version of the pocket-sized Yaris city car that’s currently undergoing shakedown testing in Europe. To commemorate the occasion, the Japanese car maker will introduce a toned-down, street-legal version of the racer that will be aimed squarely at the Volkswagen Polo GTI and the Ford Fiesta ST.

Speaking to Australian website Car Advice on the sidelines of the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota chief engineer Tetsuya Tada explained that not transforming the racer into a production model simply wouldn’t make sense. He stopped short of confirming full technical details, but he hinted that the front-wheel drive, sport-focused Yaris will use a four-cylinder engine fitted with a big turbo. It will need to deliver approximately 200 horsepower in order to outgun the GTI and the STI, which make 189 and 197 hp, respectively.

Toyota will also install a wider exhaust line, more powerful brakes on both axles and a stiffer suspension. As a result, the Yaris will be much louder and much lower than the regular-production econobox that’s currently sitting in Toyota showrooms.

The turbocharged Yaris will also boast a rally-inspired look characterized by add-ons such as model-specific bumpers on both ends, a generously-sized roof-mounted spoiler and wide fender flares. All told, the hot hatch could end up looking a lot like the 400-hp Yaris Hybrid-R concept (pictured) that was discreetly introduced in 2013.

More details about Toyota’s Yaris-based hot hatch will trickle out over the coming months, and it might be previewed by a close-to-production concept at a major auto show next year. It is expected to go on sale in Japan and in Europe in about 2017, but at the time of writing it is too early to tell if Toyota is planning on hunting the Ford Fiesta ST on its home turf.

Editors' Recommendations

Don't Miss

Audi taught cars to talk to traffic lights, and they're set to be even chattier
Up Next

Sony reports $280M net profit in Q2, but mobile sector continues to struggle
how a ducati motorcycle goes from sketch to production design fullwide
Cars

How VR, 3D modeling, and craftsmanship help Ducati design alluring motorcycles

Passion fuels Ducati's team of designers as its members create some of the most alluring bikes on the planet. Digital Trends went behind the scenes in Ducati's design studio to learn how the company balances craftsmanship and tech.
Posted — By Ronan Glon
Audi A8 traffic drama shot
Cars

Audi taught cars to talk to traffic lights, and they’re set to be even chattier

Audi started teaching its cars the language of traffic lights in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2016, and it has continued to expand the reach of this technology ever since.
Posted — By Ronan Glon
days gone e3 2016 preview prepare
Gaming

Here’s everything we know about the zombie-infested, survival horror Days Gone

Days Gone, the first PS4 title from Sony's Bend Studio, looks to offer a different type of zombie game. Here's everything we know about the forthcoming title, from the setting to its gameplay.
Posted — By Steven Petite
Crunch Culture | Rockstar Games
Gaming

These are the must-have games that every Xbox One owner needs

More than four years into its life span, Microsoft's latest console is finally coming into its own. From Cuphead to Halo 5, the best Xbox One games offer something for players of every type.
Posted — By Gabe Gurwin
frankfurt-alfa-romeo-giulia-2
Cars

Mamma mia! Alfa Romeo will unveil a new model at the Geneva Auto Show

Alfa Romeo told Digital Trends it will unveil a new model at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show. It stopped short of revealing what it has in store, but rumors claim it will be a crossover positioned below the Stelvio.
Posted — By Ronan Glon
citroens ami one concept car is as cute it compact copyright maison vignaux continental productions
Cars

Citroën says you could drive its tiny Ami One electric car without a license

Citroën's Ami One concept car is an electric vehicle that's as cute as it is compact. The miniature motor only has a top speed of 28 mph, so the French automaker imagines it as a shareable runaround for short drives.
Posted — By Trevor Mogg
Uber self-driving car
Cars

Arizona city slammed with $10M lawsuit over fatal Uber autonomous car accident

The family of Elaine Herzberg, the woman struck and killed by one of Uber's self-driving prototypes, has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the city of Tempe, Arizona. They claim Herzberg jaywalked because she was confused by a brick…
Posted — By Ronan Glon
2020 Mercedes-Benz SLC Final Edition
Cars

Mercedes lets the sun shine in one last time with SLC Final Edition convertible

The Mercedes-Benz SLC convertible sports car is going out of production. Launched in 1996 as the SLK, the model has been a fixture in the Mercedes-Benz lineup across three generations.
Posted — By Stephen Edelstein
Aston Martin Project 003 teaser
Cars

Aston Martin’s next hypercar, due in 2021, will pack a hybrid powertrain punch

Aston Martin will follow up the Valkyrie and Valkyrie AMR Pro with a new hypercar, code-named Project 003. The car will debut in 2021, with production limited to 500 units worldwide.
Posted — By Stephen Edelstein
apple file system
Cars

Apple opens up about its self-driving car program in letter to NHTSA

Apple has traditionally kept details about its self-driving car technology under wraps, but it has revealed details about the program in a rare instance of openness. The company takes safety seriously.
Posted — By Ronan Glon
tesla model s
Cars

Tesla will release fully self-driving cars in 2019 — with a big asterisk

Tesla reaffirmed its goal of releasing a fully self-driving car by the end of 2019, but it warned the system won't work perfectly 100 percent of the time. Convincing regulators that it's safe to use will require some effort, too.
Posted — By Ronan Glon
Tesla Model 3
Cars

Consumer Reports bumps the Tesla Model 3 off of its list of recommended models

The Tesla Model 3 is one of the six new cars that have lost their coveted Recommended rating from Consumer Reports over reliability concerns. In 2018, Model 3 owners reported body trim falling off and problems with the car's glass.
Posted — By Ronan Glon
Lyft Aptiv ride experience
Cars

Lyft’s Shared Saver service offers cheaper rides, but you’ll have to walk a little

Lyft has launched a new ride option called Shared Saver that offers cheaper rides if you're willing to walk a little. Shared Saver designates a nearby pick-up point and drops you off a short distance from your final destination.
Posted — By Trevor Mogg
2018 volkswagen california t6 transporter 15
Cars

Has Apple rebooted its self-driving car program to develop autonomous vans?

The on-again, off-again Apple car is back on track, but it's not a sedan or a hatchback. It will arrive as an electric, autonomous passenger-carrying van, according to a recent report.
Posted — By Ronan Glon