This Experimental Toyota GR Yaris’ 3-Cylinder Engine Runs On Hydrogen

A few months ago Toyota tested a hydrogen-powered Corolla in the Super Taikyu 24-hour race and now the company is putting the same engine to an experimental Toyota GR Yaris showcasing the potential of hydrogen as fuel.

Unlike traditional fuel-cell vehicles like the Mirai,  the experimental GR Yaris is using a specially prepared internal combustion engine which uses hydrogen instead of petrol. From the aforementioned Mirai, it only borrows the hydrogen fuel tanks meaning that it goes through the same refueling process.

Read Also: Toyota’s Next-Gen Prius Could Get A Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine

The gills on the rear quarter windows of the GR Yaris and the heavily tinted rear windscreen make us believe that the hydrogen tanks are located at the rear seats and boot.

The turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine codenamed G16E-GTS is closely related to the one on the production-spec GR Yaris but it features a modified fuel supply and injection system in order to burn hydrogen. The same motor was tested on the modified Corolla last June and while the racecar spent a lot of time in the pitlane for various issues and refueling, it successfully completed the 24-hour race.

Besides eliminating the vast majority of harmful emissions associated with petrol, hydrogen also combusts at a faster rate making the experimental engine responsive. Another advantage is that the car retains most of the characteristics of ICE-powered vehicles including a throaty sound.

Visually, the concept doesn’t deviate much from the GR Yaris we all know, besides the fancy graphics communicating the uniqueness of its powertrain.

Toyota says that hydrogen combustion engine technology is still in “the early stages of conceptual development” since they started working on it in 2017. While the engine is “not yet ready for commercialization” the fact that the Japanese company puts it on different vehicles is indicative of their intentions. We understand that the ultimate goal of this project is to reach production as hinted by the following statement in the press release: “By further refining its hydrogen-engine technologies through motorsports, Toyota intends to aim for the realisation of an even better hydrogen-based society.”

Toyota is known for not relying exclusively on electrification as most automakers do, and is currently offering a mix of HEV, BEV, PHEV, and FCEV vehicles on its range.