A 2018 Toyota Yaris GRMN is on the way and it boasts around 210 horsepower. This sportier and more powerful Yaris has been inspired by Toyota's return to the 2017 World Rally Championship. It is set to debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show next month.
Based on the Yaris rally car, Toyota describes this more powerful hatchback as "unique in the hot-hatch market." "Yaris GRMN" apparently stands for "Gazoo Racing Masters of the Nurburgring" and will be the first global model in to be part of the GRMN performance division.
TopSpeed reports that Toyota received numerous remarks for not releasing a higher-performance version of the current-generation Toyota Yaris, which was originally introduced for the 2015 model year. It seems consumers wanted a version that can compete with the likes of Volkswagen Polo GTi and Ford Fiesta ST.
The 2018 Toyota Yaris GRMN will sport a supercharger instead of a turbocharger, unlike what Ford used for its Fiesta ST. The turbocharger will be mated with a 1.8-liter inline-4 engine, displacing the current gen's 1.5.
A 205 horsepower will be delivered by its uprated engine. Basically, this is doubling the 106 hp of a standard car. An addition aero kit and upgraded brakes, wheels, and suspensions will also be part of the 2018 Toyota Yaris GRMN. Design modifications for this high-performance hatchback include a brand new front and rear styling and a more modern-oriented cabin.
The Japanese company aims to strengthen its road car's performance image by linking them with racing efforts, according to MotorAuthority. The end goal is to create a worthy adversary for Ford Performance and Nismo.
Other rivals of the 2018 Toyota Yaris GRMN that are also set to make their debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show are Ford Fiesta ST and Volkswagen Polo GTI. Plans for this hatchback to grace US soil is still uncertain as of this writing, as previous GRMN vehicles were only limited to the Japanese market.
Toyota has kept a rather tight lid for its upcoming high-performance hatchback except for its name and engine. This probably is a way to keep the excitement going until the big reveal when finally the 2018 Toyota Yaris GRMN comes out with a bang. In the meantime, stay tuned for further updates.
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