Toyota GR Yaris Hot Hatch To Debut At Tokyo Auto Salon In January

Toyota has confirmed that the new GR Yaris hot hatch will debut at the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon, which takes place from January 10-12.

The sportiest version of the latest-generation Yaris will be the second GR-branded model launched globally by Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR), following last year’s debut of the GR Supra.

Toyota says the new model “incorporates all the technologies, knowledge, and experience learned from WRC.” The automaker confirmed earlier this month that the GR Yaris features an all-wheel-drive system, hence the GR-4 decals on the prototype. This should take performance to another level compared to the outgoing Yaris GRMN, which was front-wheel-drive.

Related: Toyota Postpones New Yaris GR-4 Reveal Due To Australia’s Wild Fires

A force-fed gasoline engine also looks certain, but it remains to be seen whether Toyota will continue with the Yaris GRMN’s supercharged 1.8-liter unit or switch to a turbocharged unit that’s more in tune with the WRC car.

While the world premiere of the GR Yaris will take place at the in January, the car will make its first official dynamic appearance on December 15 at the Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival 2019. At the event, the GR Yaris will be camouflaged in the signature red-black-and-white TGR colors, just like in these photos of the prototype. Interestingly, Toyota seems to go against the tide by making the GR Yaris a three-door hatchback, as opposed to the regular model’s five-door body style.

Speaking of the GR Yaris test prototype, it was recently signed off by Toyota President Akio Toyoda under his TGR Master Driver code name “Morizo.” The executive performed the final test of the car and had quite a bit of fun hooning it, as the video posted below can attest.