We had been greatly surprised when Toyota pulled the wraps off the GR Yaris M on the Tokyo Auto Salon in January. A mid-engined scorching hatch on this financial system? Effectively, not fairly. Though the idea was based mostly on the subcompact hatchback, a follow-up manufacturing automotive with the engine behind the seats will take a special form. All indicators level to the MR2 revival, however latest developments recommend it’d take longer than deliberate.

The GR Yaris M was speculated to take part in Japan’s Tremendous Taikyu Collection, the place it might be “repeatedly pushed to failure after which repaired within the excessive situations of racing.” That hasn’t occurred but. Toyota has now gone on file, stating that it’s encountering “difficulties distinctive to midship-mounted automobiles when it comes to braking, steering, and driving.” The corporate had supposed to race the pocket rocket over the weekend on the Autopolis observe for the fifth spherical of the endurance collection.

Picture by: Toyota

Regardless of the setback, Toyota stays assured the undertaking will come to fruition after “many challenges have been recognized and enhancements are ongoing.” In the end, the idea will compete in races throughout Japan earlier than a street-legal manufacturing automotive with a mid-mounted engine hits the market. It’s extremely unlikely the GR Yaris M will decide up the place the Renault Clio V6 left off, however one thing with a license plate is all however confirmed to outcome from this endeavor.

Within the meantime, Toyota has already confirmed the GR Yaris contains a newly developed “G20E” engine outfitted with an IHI turbocharger. It’s anticipated to make 400 to 450 horsepower in normal kind, however an uncorked model with an even bigger turbo is estimated to push out 600 hp. Economies of scale recommend the two.0-liter four-cylinder mill gained’t be restricted to a single automotive. Certainly, engineers are engaged on each longitudinal and transverse purposes for front- and mid-engined automobiles. A few 12 months in the past, we heard the brand new engine in a stripped-out Lexus IS prototype, and it sounded fairly good for less than a four-banger.

Past a possible MR2 revival, Toyota has additionally dropped hints about dusting off the Celica nameplate. Moreover, it has stated the Supra will survive previous this era, with a successor unlikely to have any BMW ties. Maybe the G20E is meant for all three vehicles? One other piece of the puzzle is whether or not the brand new engine will exchange the three-cylinder G16E discovered within the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, and the lesser-known Lexus LBX Morizo RR crossover.

For one thing with double the cylinder depend, the GR GT3 race automotive is getting a road-legal Lexus counterpart with a giant V8, or so we’ve heard. The “LFR” made a shock look earlier this month on the Goodwood Competition of Velocity, hinting at its impending arrival.