All eyes were on Toyota at the beginning of the year when it unveiled the mid-engined GR Yaris at the Tokyo Motor Show. As if that wasn’t interesting enough, the hot hatch ditches the familiar 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine it shares with the GR Corolla in favor of a larger 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The plan was to test the pocket rocket in endurance races a few months ago, but its track debut was postponed after its encounter “Difficulties” during development.
Fast forward to October: The G20 is still a work in progress, however Toyota You have now successfully tested the new engine in competition. No one other than company president Akio Toyoda finished third overall, driving the mid-engined GR Yaris during the sixth round of the Super Taikyu Series at Okayama Circuit.
Following previous reports from Japan, Toyota now confirms it is targeting more than 400 horsepower. The engine ran entirely on gasoline during racing, but was developed to support a 20 percent ethanol (E20) blend. According to Japan Car clock Magazine, the G20E is derived from the “G16E” used in the GR Yaris, GR Corolla and Lexus LBX Morizo RR crossovers.
After the race, Akio Toyoda did not commit to a launch date but said Toyota had “definitely taken a step forward”. The development team expressed optimism, noting that they did not encounter any major problems during the three-hour race. Once it is ready, G20 E It can power a wide range of vehicles, as it can be mounted longitudinally or transversely in front and mid-engined designs.
Photo by: Toyota
The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine was first announced in May 2024 as part of a new family of smaller, more efficient engines. Report from Financial Times Toyota claims it plans to launch the first vehicles with these engines in late 2026. After the G20E, there will be 1.5-liter naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants, all of which are lower in size, height and weight.
Toyota says the new engines will “revolutionize vehicle packaging” and improve aerodynamics. Future models will have lower shrouds for improved airflow and efficiency, thanks to reduced engine height. The 2.0-liter turbo was even Tested in a Lexus IS prototypeIt was installed at the rear to lower the sedan’s center of gravity.
Aside from the engines, the GR Yaris M also debuts a new all-wheel drive system with adjustable power splits: 40:60 or 50:50 front/rear. For comparison, current setups can send up to 60 percent of torque to the front wheels or 70 percent to the rear wheels.
Toyota continues to drop hints about a commitment to fun cars. Along with a suggestion Celica will be backthe company has pledged to revive the Supra shortly after production of the current model based on the BMW Z4 ends in March 2026. Above all, it will sit A GT3-derived supercar for the roadis scheduled to premiere in early December.
