An even quicker Toyota GR Yaris, fitted with the more potent powertrain from the American market's GR Corolla Morizo, is in development.
This turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine means the GR Yaris will get an extra 28bhp and 22lb ft, leaving it with 296bhp and 295lb ft.
Extreme levels of weight-saving are also set to be made, including the deletion of the rear seats, but a basic stereo and single-zone climate control will stay.
This eye on lightness, coupled with its new powerplant, means the new GR Yaris is tipped to sprint from 0-62mph in less than 4.5sec and top out at more than 155mph.
The more powerful GR Yaris is also expected to carry the new Morizo name that's reserved for the fastest most extreme Gazoo Racing models. This moniker comes from Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda's motorsport pseudonym.
The development work has been confirmed by Gazoo Racing's chief engineer, Naoyuki Sakamoto.
The senior Toyota executive has also revealed that there's enough space to package the GR Corolla Morizo's special close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox, which will replace the six-speed in the current GR Yaris – known as the car's weak spot. This drivetrain will now be able to cope with not only the 295lb ft the GR Corolla Morizo produces but even more torque than that.
Yet there are issues to deal with. Sakamoto confirmed the supermini doesn't provide the space for the bigger Corolla's trick exhaust.
However, he admitted that the majority of the GR Corolla powertrain development work was actually carried out by modified GR Yaris race cars competing in the Super Taikyu race series in Japan.
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Rather than bring out new versions of GR's why not actual make enough of them to fulfill existing demand.
You do a limited run because you know your on to a sure thing, so, when you bring out updates you know you've got buyers wanting one, and, how much hp can you put under the bonnet of a small car?, and, how safe is it for your average driver?, remember, if you can afford it, you can afford the insurance, so,it entirely possible that a learner could buy one.
Nothing to do with limited production run, Toyota goofed up after the gt86 failure, the UK owners bought all the GR86s within 90 mins. Dealers are desparate for them.
As to learners and small cars etc, I am not sure what you're on about.
@xxxx, re learners and powerful Cars, if your Parents are have money or you've got a well paid Job, you could, if you wanted to if you passed, buy a Car like this or whatever, I'm not sure a Car show room would turn you away just because your not experienced in driving car like this or others.
Eh? It's a Toyota Yaris with the same power as a v6 camry or accord or 3-series or whatever. Why would anybody be turned away? What are you talking about?