As Toyota prepares to give its new GR Yaris hot hatch a dynamic debut at this weekend’s Goodwood Speedweek, a mysterious modified prototype has been spotted lapping the Nürburgring.
The 191kW, four-wheel-drive supermini is already marked out from the standard Yaris by its three-door-only bodyshell, lower roofline and performance-oriented addenda including flared arches, bigger air intakes and wider track. This latest prototype appears to up the ante with motorsport-style front winglets, new air vents behind the front wheels and a significantly larger rear wing.
A Toyota spokesperson was unable to comment on the images, but it seems likely that the marque is developing either a performance upgrade package for its second GR model or an uprated, limited-run range-topper.
The GR Yaris is already available with two trim packages: Convenience, which comes as standard with luxuries including active noise control and keyless entry, and the Circuit Pack, which adds a pair of limited-slip differentials, stickier tyres and a more handling-focused suspension tune. It is likely that any uprated variants would be based on the latter.
It is also possible that Toyota is testing the driveline, chassis set-up or aero package for its new GR Yaris-based WRC racer, which will replace the current Yaris-based car for the 2021 season.
Deliveries of the standard GR Yaris are set to get under way in Australia late next month, following a scheduled appearance at the new Goodwood Speedweek event with Toyota WRC driver Elfyn Evans behind the wheel.
Felix Page