If you thought the Ford Fiesta ST is basically like giving a Chihuahua steroids, the Toyota Yaris will be just as much. This little hatchback has been a steady favorite of those who want and need great efficiency but not a lot of power from under the hood. The Yaris has two versions, the subdued model we see and drive on a daily basis and the WRC version with its insane power and racing spirit. As other models have taken their small and mundane hatchback versions to a much higher performance to give us something more exciting, the Yaris is ready to get in on the action.
Looking at the Yaris we normally see on the road, we see a car that comes with a small 1.5-liter four cylinder engine that brings only 106 horsepower and 103 lb.-ft. of torque This is the model that you drive when you have a long commute to wherever you plan to drive, especially if its jut to work and back on a daily basis. This car is built to be affordable and highly efficient to give us the performance we need so that our cost of driving is kept to a minimum.
On the other end, the WRC car is sport tuned, adds a huge wing, the right equipment for racing and is the benefactor if a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This racing version of the Yaris is able to produce a massive 380 horsepower and 313 lb.-ft. of torque. This truly is akin to having a tiny animal that’s been fed too much sugar, coffee or put on steroids. This car is what competes in the WRC circuit each year to give us the performance we want to enjoy in a car that’s built for speed.
What this new Yaris will likely be is something in between. The name of the new model might be Gazoo, which was the first official racing team of Toyota and a fitting name for a car that’s going to be built for speed, performance and efficiency all at the same time. The ideal split would be to have nearly 200 ponies under the hood of this new car while maintaining excellent fuel mileage. This would give us an impressive example of power and performance together to be a great car for us to enjoy on the road, making it possible for the ride we want.
The excitement is beginning and we will hopefully see a new Yaris Gazoo in the near future. The power and the performance will have to be increased a great deal beyond what we currently have, but that shouldn’t be a problem considering the car simply needs to be given a boost that’s well above the run of the mill Yaris, but well below the WRC model. This will give us yet another impressive hot hatch on the market to make this segment of the automotive world one that’s even more impressive for us to enjoy the ride in our small hatchback cars that are quick and agile.
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