Since its unveiling in January 2020, the Toyota GR Yaris has been one of the most desirable hot hatches on sale, proving that petrolheads all over the world are craving rally-bred homologation specials. While its performance (and price) easily places it on the top of its segment, Toyota Gazoo Racing seems to be developing an even more capable version, judging from this test car that was spotted again at the Nurburgring wearing extra bits of aero and some special evaluation sensors.
This is the second time we see a GR Yaris mule being tested on the track, as a very similar vehicle was spied roaming the Green Hell in October 2020. The aero components like the canards on the front bumper, the additional vents on the front fenders, and the huge rear wing, are strong hints of a track-focused variant.
Compared to the previous test car, this new one has more camouflage on the side sills and the vents. The mismatching wheels and the extra tubes at the back are probably helping Toyota engineers gather more data about the vehicle’s setup.
We expect the production version to come within an even more aggressive suspension and chassis tuning, a different body kit for more downforce and lower weight. The three-cylinder turbocharged 1.6-liter engine could produce more power, but even if it retains the 257 hp power rating of the stock GR Yaris, we suspect that very few will be disappointed. The new version of what’s arguably the hottest Toyota in decades will most certainly keep the rally-inspired GR-Four all-wheel-drive system and come with the optional Torsen limited-slip differentials in both axles.
If our speculations are right, the new weapon from Gazoo Racing could be the Porsche GT3 RS of the B-Segment hot hatches, stepping in the territory of larger and more powerful models. There is no information on a release date but rumors suggest it could come as early as 2022.
