Outside of Japan, Toyota’s GR lineup
includes two models: the GR Yaris and GR Supra.
The next-gen GT 86 is tipped to be added to the range, perhaps renamed
as the GR 86, as well as the Corolla, and now a report has emerged about the
C-HR joining the sporty family as well.
It’s said that it could arrive before 2023
and according to AutoExpress, it will probably be part of the second generation
model that’s allegedly due before the end of next year. Set to be based on the
TNGA platform, it should be complemented by multi-link suspension with new
dampers, as well as big brakes to provide the stopping power.
At the heart of the rumored GR C-HR is
said to be the 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine found in the GR
Yaris. A Gazoo exec told the British publication that it “can be used in other
applications” and supports “more than one state of tune”. Additionally, it’s
“not an engine that had to be built” in order for the sporty supermini to come
to life, which means that it was designed to be used in other models.
In the top Yaris, it develops 261 PS and 360 Nm of torque, and a tad more in the Japanese
variant: 272 PS and 370 Nm. Paired to a six-speed
manual transmission and four-wheel drive, and with available Torsen
limited-slip differentials, it rockets the GR Yaris to 100 km/h in 5.5
seconds, before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 230 km/h.
If the GR C-HR will indeed be green-lit
for production, then it will go after the likes of the Volkswagen T-Roc R,
Hyundai Kona N and Ford Puma ST.
