I am sorry, it maybe super light, quick, and 100% made in Japan by Toyota, but I would never be caught dead driving that little thing.
Just saying......
Totally agree with you, they are two different cars that fit different people and needs. Putting in a corolla hatchback would be an excellent idea and a great daily driver for sure. Let's start a petition and tell Toyota to build it and we will come!Count me among those interested. This and the Supra are totally different enthusiast cars for different purposes.
If Toyota managed to spread out the R&D cost to develop this little engine for both a high performance rally car and hybrid-electric applications then so be it. They still developed a new three-door hatch short wheelbase 2800lb Yaris chassis with AWD that has different selectable modes, a sole six-speed manual transmission, a boosted 268hp engine and the option of Torsen LSDs at both ends.
The only letdown is that it's never going to be sold in the U.S. market as is and that is a shame. We'll have to wait until 2045-2046 at the earliest here to import it. But it's okay! That just means more CVT FWD 140hp C-HR crossovers for us. So... "sporty". Woo...
I do hope the AWD, engine, 6-speed manual and twin Torsen LSD package gets adapted into another model for the U.S. (Corolla hatch or something else) either in 1.6L I-3 guise or as a four-cylinder variant with more displacement and over 300hp. If they won't sell that lovely, angry 3-door Yaris AWD chassis here they need to shove the entire driveline into some car (not CUV or crossover) that they will sell here.
That or they could bring the modern European Yaris line to the U.S. and give Mazda back their 2 hatchback and include the Yaris GR-4 along with it. That won't happen but that doesn't mean it isn't the right thing that should happen.Totally agree with you, they are two different cars that fit different people and needs. Putting in a corolla hatchback would be an excellent idea and a great daily driver for sure. Let's start a petition and tell Toyota to build it and we will come!
Absolutely agree!!That or they could bring the modern European Yaris line to the U.S. and give Mazda back their 2 hatchback and include the Yaris GR-4 along with it. That won't happen but that doesn't mean it is the right thing that should happen.
The Corolla with *exactly* this drivetrain would be great but with the added weight and size of the modern Corolla I think expanding this engine out to four cylinders and 1.8-2.0L would be best for the application. More than that however, the Corolla would need to get a three-door variant with similar chassis reinforcements and lightening to the Yaris GR-Four. Then it will be closer to yet another true All-Trac/GT-Four successor for its size and weight when compared to the Japan/Euro Yaris.
Regardless, the Corolla needs a turbo engine put against its 6-speed M/T in the top trim level!
The corolla hatch is a scant 200lbs heavier than this car. I think this drivetrain might not dramatically increase that (heavier transmission and rear diff and axles, but smaller, lighter engine), don't see the need to do much more than transfer it wholesale. I would say they don't have to go extreme with it, probably add a carbon roof, lighter seats, upgraded brakes and suspension components. If my memory serves me correctly, the corolla already has a "plastic" hatch and a number of weight reduction features.That or they could bring the modern European Yaris line to the U.S. and give Mazda back their 2 hatchback and include the Yaris GR-4 along with it. That won't happen but that doesn't mean it isn't the right thing that should happen.
The Corolla with *exactly* this drivetrain would be great but with the added weight and size of the modern Corolla I think expanding this engine out to four cylinders and 1.8-2.0L would be best for the application. More than that however, the Corolla would need to get a three-door variant with similar chassis reinforcements and lightening to the Yaris GR-Four. Then it will be closer to yet another true All-Trac/GT-Four successor for its size and weight when compared to the Japan/Euro Yaris.
Regardless, the Corolla needs a turbo engine put against its 6-speed M/T in the top trim level!
^^ Your proposed approach would definitely work as well. I think it would be the difference between just gifting the existing USDM Corolla hatch with this drivetrain versus doing that and giving the entire chassis the homologated rally car treatment.The corolla hatch is a scant 200lbs heavier than this car. I think this drivetrain might not dramatically increase that (heavier transmission and rear diff and axles, but smaller, lighter engine), don't see the need to do much more than transfer it wholesale. I would say they don't have to go extreme with it, probably add a carbon roof, lighter seats, upgraded brakes and suspension components. If my memory serves me correctly, the corolla already has a "plastic" hatch and a number of weight reduction features.
A70, Iām recalling how you mentioned a while back that whatever version of this car/drivetrain comes to the rest of the world as would be even better than the Yaris GR-4. If itās the global Corolla that we get which will have this treatment then Iām patiently intrigued!Corolla GR4 is on the way
But the Yaris GR4 is indeed a ton of fun to drive IMO, but it's also lightweight, 6spd, and AWD.