Latest news with #GRYaris
Auto Express
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK
Toyota is lining up its rally-bred GR Corolla for UK launch in the next 18 months, with the four-wheel drive hot hatch expected to join the much-lauded GR Yaris on UK roads. The Japanese brand has previously confirmed that the 296bhp Corolla will enter production at Toyota's UK plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire next year to help address lengthy global waiting lists, but is yet to say that the car, currently built only at a single factory in Japan, will be sold in Europe. Advertisement - Article continues below But talking exclusively to Auto Express, Toyota's European COO Matt Harrison dropped thinly veiled hints that British hot hatch fans won't be disappointed. 'We have a philosophy that you build where you sell, so to build in Europe and not sell in Europe would be counter to that,' he said. 'The gap between supply and demand is now, so it's about how quickly we can get it. We need to act fast.' The Burnaston site was chosen because, as well as its factory capacity, the UK has motorsport expertise that aligns with the specialist nature of the low-volume performance hatchback. 'The GR Corolla is bespoke, it doesn't go through the normal processes', Harrison told us. The GR Corolla was originally launched in 2022 in selected markets outside Europe, and it uses the same 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, four-wheel drive and torque vectoring system that has made the GR Yaris one of the hottest performance properties of recent years. Subject to the expected green light, prices for the GR Corolla are likely to kick off from over £40,000, although we'll have to wait until 2026 for full pricing and specification. Fancy a Corolla of your own? Take a look at our latest Toyota Corolla deals ... Find a car with the experts New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it's for China only Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too Audi's not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Toyota GR Cup reaches its most important round at Zwartkops
The halfway point in this year's championship returns to the Highveld for the first time since May, and where it all began for the participating media. The previous round at Aldo Scribante saw the debut of the revised GR Yaris complete with the new eight-speed Direct Automatic Transmission and more powerful 1.6-litre engine. Image: Toyota Gazoo Racing An expected level playing field will most certainly not be applicable at this weekend's fourth round of the Toyota GR Cup. A month after the last round at Aldo Scribante, and second to use the upgraded Yaris fitted with the more powerful G16E-GTS three-cylinder 1.6-litre turbocharged engine and eight-speed Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT), the championship moves to where to current crop of motoring media's racing careers started, the Zwartkops Raceway outside Pretoria. Driven yes, but not in anger Unlike the shakedown test and getting to grips with the intricacies of motorsport back in March, the art of racing at high speed and in close proximity to other cars has no longer become scary and intimidating, but often personal and a thrill. The fourth round of the series, and also of the National Extreme Festival, serves as the first visit back on the Highveld since Kyalami in May, and, unlike the actual driving encompassing practice, qualifying and two races, comes with a different challenge. Besides being the home of the Toyota GR Academy, and therefore taking place before the brand's high-ranking executives, the supposed level playing field is unlikely to be of concern for the following reasons. ALSO READ: Return to home ground counts for little in Toyota GR Cup thriller While all of the media have had experience of the circuit either during the shakedown and/or on the simulator, racing at full tilt will be something new. During the former, the grid was frequented by only the six media GR Yaris' and two GR Corollas driven by GR instructors Paul de Vos and Devon Scott. This time around, the field will include the GR Academy GR86s and the selected GR dealers campaigning the GR Corollas to make about over 20 entrants. Zwartkops: A proper challenge Along with the tight and fast confines of Zwartkops compared to Aldo Scribante or Killarney, the challenge is much greater as either panel bashing will take place, or in the worst possible case, making a new friend called armco barrier. Notwithstanding being under the microscope of Toyota's top brass, the circuit itself has proven over time to be unforgivable. Admittedly, no longer the fast challenge of the old track torn up nearly three decades ago, the focus on being a spectator spectacle means there is no place to hide when you get it wrong. Whereas the first corner is taken flat or accompanied with a lift, getting the turn two hairpin right presents a surprising challenge. Despite appearing as easy as hitting brakes and flicking the paddles, or leaving the 'box to its own devices, getting it right will depend on the method of entry of the car in front, your entry line and whether you are prepared to risk it all for an overtake on the inside. The backstraight 'complex' of turns three and four come next. Also flat, the latter remains the most daunting as it requires the biggest decision; take it at full chat and possibly risk going off, or lift and lose speed or even a place. From here, the short track up the hill to turns five and six past Toyota GR Academy HQ demands not only confidence in braking, but trust in the driver next to you should you enter it side-by-side. Always the scene of accidents ranging from panel bashing to being beached in the outside gravel bed, the skillset in getting it right will pay-off heading down through turn seven and into another flashpoint, the final turn eight hairpin. Another corner that requires patience and not being a last moment hero, getting enough drive will have the benefit of latching on to the car ahead and hopefully with enough momentum for an overtake either at turns one or two. Learning not done What's more, the second race with the self-shifting GR Yaris will be another learning curve as shakedown took place with the previous generation fitted with the six-speed manual 'box. Although likely to be easier given the lack of a clutch pedal, it still remains a new car and thus, will most probably be understood in full come the next round in East London in July. For the moment though, the halfway marker in the championship will still be important for The Citizen, who lies fifth in the series after five fifth place finishes and one sixth. Still on target Runaway championship leader Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) has so far not been beaten and arrives at Zwartkops with a full house of points (42), having one six out of six so far. CAR Magazine's Kyle Kock sits second on 29 and TimesLive's Phuti Mpyane third on 25. AutoTrader's Lawrence Minnie occupies fourth on 18 ahead of yours truly on 11 and IOL/Independent's Willem van der Putte on 7. Although far from being balanced on a knife edge, the expectation to do well, not embark on an argy-bargy spell at Toyota's home event, and still give it everything will be top of mind when the lights go out on Saturday (21 June). NOW READ: Kyalami deals cruel hand to The Citizen in Toyota GR Cup
Forbes
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
More Juicy Details Surface On Toyota's Star Celica Sports Car Revival
The GR Yaris M Concept Photo by Toyota Earlier this year, I reported on a radical new Toyota concept that debuted at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Called the GR Yaris M Concept, it hinted strongly at the powertrain for the next-generation Celica and boasted a gutsy 400-hp 2.0-liter turbo mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. But as some new information on the coupe has come to light, as exposed in the latest issue of Japan's Best Car magazine, I thought it high time we updated news on the return of this major Toyota sports car. And that news specifically refers to special lightweight body parts, an 8-speed automatic option, two specific grades and a new launch date. The mid-engined M Concept hints at next-gen Celica Photo by Toyota But before we get onto the new data we've sourced, let's go over what we know. Strongly backed by both Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda and CEO Koji Sato, the new Celica will be powered by a next-generation turbocharged inline 4-cylinder 2.0-liter engine pumping out 400-hp and 550Nm of torque. So just to be sure, the new Celica will not employ any hybrid technology whatsoever, but will simply incorporate the GR Yaris M Concept's mid-engined gasoline turbo powerplant and feature a 4WD drivetrain. Toyota has even let on that this concept will compete in race form in Japan's Super Endurance Series starting with the race at Autopolis circuit on July 26-27, as the brand's engineers tweak the powertrain and chassis to maximize feedback for the new Celica. The new Celica will be Toyota's first mid-engined sports car since the MR-S was axed back in mid-2007. We can expect to see the coupe developed at Toyota's Shimoyama proving ground in central Japan, in addition to the 13-mile long Nurburgring in Germany. But of course, the Celica is well-known as a successful rally car, having won three driver championships in the early 1990s. But the all-new Celica will switch from rally to race track as it employs a new personality. According to Best Car, the new information this time round includes a new roof and hood made of carbon fiber, which significantly reduces curb weight while increasing rigidity. This means that this coupe will employ a double rear deck carbon fiber layout, one for the mid-engined hood and one for the trunk. Also to improve all-round visibility, one other update includes a surprisingly upright A-pillar and rounded glass at both sides of the windshield to allow drivers to see as far around the next upcoming bend as possible, which is a must for any good sports car. Expected to be launched in two specs—the RZ and the (race spec) 'RC', the Celica—as mentioned above—was originally expected to just offer a 6-speed manual transmission. But after a rethink, and to make the car more palatable to a wider range of motorists, Toyota will also offer an 8-speed automatic. One other new snippet of information is that Toyota is now telling us that the new Celica's debut will be delayed. The expected launch has been pushed back from spring 2027 to spring 2028, but the prototype is strongly rumored to appear at the 2027 Tokyo Auto Salon in January.
Motor 1
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Ford Claims People Don't Care as Much About Engines Anymore
Ford believes the days when combustion engines defined a vehicle are largely behind us. It's not just because EVs are gaining traction worldwide at the expense of ICE cars. People don't care as much as they once did about what powers a car. Vice Chair John Lawler made this point during a Bernstein conference , arguing that customer interest in conventional engines is waning. 'I don't think that consumers really think about powertrains the way they did 30 years ago. Where [combustion engines] defined what a vehicle was; the horsepower, the displacement, the torque, and everything about the vehicle; I think a lot of that is gone." Photo by: Ford While you and I might be tempted to disagree with his statement, he's not wrong. The fact is, most people aren't car enthusiasts. The reality in 2025 is that most buyers have other priorities when shopping for a new vehicle. Whether it's design, infotainment, or safety and driver assistance systems, other factors now rank higher in the decision-making process. The waning interest in ICE can also be attributed to increasingly stringent emissions regulations. These are forcing most automakers to downsize, and with rare exceptions such as Toyota's three-cylinder GR Yaris or GR Corolla, a small engine typically doesn't stir much excitement. There used to be a far greater variety of interesting cars back in the 1990s, the era Lawler referenced. Those days are long gone and unlikely to return, especially in Europe, where all new cars sold from 2035 onward must be ICE-free. The four-cylinder AMG C63 is a prime example of how neutering a combustion engine is turning buyers away. The hybrid setup may make the sports sedan faster and more powerful on paper, but people still long for the old V-8. Ford is hanging on to its eight-cylinder in the Mustang, but the 5.0-liter engine makes the pony car a tough sell in Europe, where taxes on large-displacement, high-emission engines are skyrocketing. There's more to it than that. While cars are not dead , SUVs have taken over, and their buyers are more likely to care about other features than what's under the hood. Enthusiasts have always been a minority, but that niche is shrinking as the years pass. Frankly, there aren't as many cars to get excited about anymore, and with electrification looming, the worst may be yet to come for ICE-loving fans. But maybe it's not all doom and gloom. Sporty hybrids like the new Honda Prelude could keep the combustion engine alive a little longer. Synthetic fuels might gain traction in the coming years, and perhaps Toyota's hydrogen ICE technology has a future. Am I being overly optimistic? Probably. I do realize the days when enthusiasts were spoiled for choice are gone, but maybe automakers will find a way to keep the flame alive. Catch Up With Ford: The Ford Hot Hatch Is Officially Dead You Can Still Buy a New Ford Sedan Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Automotive News Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Jones And Thomson Closer Than Ever To Victory In Japan
With New Zealand rally legend Hayden Paddon on hand to help and advise over the weekend, Jones and Thomson but a relatively slow start on stage one behind them to be one of the pace setters on the afternoon of the first day and throughout the second day of the eight-stage rally. The strong result moves them to second in the championship standings at the halfway point of the season. 'We were third overall and had a great final day with two stage wins and a second place,' commented Jones. 'We just missed out on second overall by 1.8 seconds which is a little frustrating but again it was really close overall and we were only 14 seconds off winning. 'The championship is that tight that it is the tiny details and tiny issues making all the difference. We lost a chunk of time on stage one when I wasn't really on the pace, and it would have been very different without that but overall, three stage wins across the weekend out of eight is positive. 'We had a good feeling with the car, and we will move to the next round with confidence that we can make that next step up I think.' Paddon was impressed with what he saw, adding: 'I've enjoyed helping Zeal and Bayden over the weekend and seeing the progress they are making in and out of the car. Seeing them standing on the podium after closing the gap to the leaders was the icing on the cake.' The Morizo Challenge Cup is a new category run as a class within the All Japan Rally Championship. All crews compete in Toyota's GR Yaris, where tight rules and limited modifications put the focus on driver skill and teamwork. All drivers must be under 25 years old and the objective of the championship is to provide a stepping stone to higher rallying categories for Japan's rising rally stars. With a Japanese mother, Jones' entry into the championship was welcomed. The Kiwi duo go again at the next round at Hokkaido over the weekend of July 4-6.
