Toyota has confirmed that the all-new Yaris will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month and that the hot-hatch Yaris GRMN will debut alongside. The automaker will also be showing off the full Gazoo Racing lineup.
Details on the regular Yaris are still thin, but Toyota says that it will have more dynamic styling and upgraded interior finish. The European model will get a new 1.5L four-cylinder with 111 hp. It will also have more of Toyota's active safety features like emergency braking and lane departure warnings. We'll have to wait to find out what exactly we'll get on Canadian roads.
What we do know is that there will be a performance version: the Yaris GRMN. GRMN stands for Gazoo Racing Masters of the Nurburgring. While that sounds like the newest poorly dubbed kids TV show, it's the brand that Toyota and their Gazoo Racing division have been using on road cars in Japan. They've already released limited runs of the Toyota 86, a turbocharged Yaris, and a supercharged iQ under that name.
The Yaris GRMN is inspired by the Gazoo Racing Yaris that is running in the World Rally Championship in 2017. The street car will get a 1.8L supercharged four that Toyota says will "produce more than 210 hp." Using a supercharger instead of a turbo is a strange move, but should give the Yaris a much different character than other hot hatches like the Ford Fiesta ST. Expect suspension changes and brake upgrades to handle the extra power.
While the new Yaris coming to Canada is a sure bet, Toyota still hasn't said if we'll get the hot version. We'll keep our fingers crossed.
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