Toyota has released the first official photos of the performance-oriented Toyota Yaris variant that it promised late last year. The B-segment hot hatch, widely-tipped to be called the Yaris Gazoo (in honour of the works Toyota Gazoo Racing team), will mark the first proper small hot hatch from the brand since the turbocharged Starlet models in the 1990s.
Said to be inspired by the Yaris WRC, the new car gets few unique cues that differentiate it from the standard facelifted Yaris that was also just introduced. There’s a rear spoiler, a rear diffuser with a large, centrally-mounted exhaust tip and larger 17-inch alloy wheels. The aggressive front bumper and side skirts of the Yaris TGR concept due to be shown at the 2017 Tokyo Auto Salon are nowhere to be found, unfortunately.
No technical details have been revealed just yet, but Toyota says that the hot Yaris will pump out over 210 hp from an unspecified engine. That engine is most probably a 1.5 litre turbocharged mill from the C-HR Racing, which was raced at the Nürburgring 24 Hours last year – although Auto Express reports that an uprated version of the standard Yaris Hybrid‘s powertrain is just as likely.
The rest of the Yaris lineup gets a more aggressive front end, a sportier rear bumper, wider two-piece tail lights and optional LED headlights. Inside, there are minor trim changes, while driving dynamics have been improved with increased spot welds, a thicker instrument panel brace and new dampers. The Hybrid model has also finally been introduced in Japan, a few years after Europe.
What do you think, guys – this, the Ford Fiesta ST or the Peugeot 208 GTi? Sound off in the comments section after the jump.
GALLERY: Toyota Yaris facelift
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
We can certainly comments on the Ford Fiesta ST or the Peugeot 208 GTi BUT not this bcos there is No conformation about the source of power yet.
Anyway, base on your rendition, it is Not far fetch from the 2 choices of engine & power since its already been running in the C-HR Racing,
IMO, the Pug GTi is better looking from any angle. You can never tell its performance until some experts put in their expertise to test/comment for now.
Am sure there are many experts coming here to comments later. Shalom & Cheers Jonathan.
performance doesn’t come from power output alone so, there’s no way to say which would be the better option for now. as it stands:
1. Fiesta ST for pure driving experience
2. Pug 208 as an all rounder
3. Clio RS if you can’t drive a manual
It may have the power of a hot hatch but what it doesnt have is the proper look of a hot hatch. The face not fiery enough to be hot hatch unlike Fiesta ST or 208 GTI.
It performance is on mark. But the look like Aunty. Maybe they should give something they call trd body kit to make it back to racer. Just add body kit enough don’t put useless sticker.
reminds me of the good old starlet glanza
G(old) times
They should try some CH-R look on it. Than I can tell you this rocket bunny will be perfect.
A turbo Toyota? You must be kidding. Toyota never goes turbo, that is the reason their cars are so boring to drive and severely underpowered. If you want to experience turbo it has to be a German car. Choose Toyota only for their hybrids, they spent too much on hybrids till they neglected R&D in forced induction engines.
Should check out the Starlet turbo, Supra, Altezza, MR2, Caldina GT4, and the mighty Celica GT-4 which dominates the WRC until FIA banned them because of their turbo was too advance for the WRC game.
By the way, German doesn’t prefer turbos until the 90’s because they found out NA was no enough.
All above are rubbish cars.
Supra is a rubbish car? Which planet are you from?
It’s great minus the ridiculous pricing if sold here…