Unlike the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, the GR Starlet would be front-wheel drive
April 29, 2024 at 06:37
- The new hatchback could be developed to compete in the Rally 4 class.
- A Japanese report claims the GR version will rock a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder.
- The car’s tiny size might help it weigh less than 2,200 lbs (1,000 kg).
Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division has been on a roll in recent years with the launch of the GR Supra, GR 86, GR Yaris, and GR Corolla, and according to a new report out of Japan, is working on another new model.
The car manufacturer is looking to revive the Toyota Starlet hatchback with a punchy new model from Gazoo. Toyota is thought to have been working on a new Starlet for quite some, underpinned by the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA). However, a recent crash safety scandal has delayed its launch until 2026.
Read: 2025 Toyota GR Yaris Heats Up, GRMN Returns With Akio Toyoda Testing Flagship
According to a report from Japan’s Best Car, the new model will compete in Rally 4 alongside the Renault Clio, Peugeot 208, and Ford Fiesta and spawn a road-going homologation special. It claims the GR version will be roughly 6.7 inches (170 mm) longer than the standard 144.8-inch (3,680 mm) Starlet while sporting flared wheel arches and a wider track. It should also have similarly aggressive front and rear bumpers to the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.
While the small overall size of the GR Starlet won’t be great for practicality, the car will be light. In fact, Japanese sources claim it could tip the scales at just 2,160 lbs (980 kg), meaning it’ll be roughly 727 lbs (300 kg) lighter than the GR Yaris.
Like the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, Gazoo’s potent version of the Starlet will use a turbocharged three-cylinder. This engine should be based on the existing 1.6-liter mill but could be downsized to 1.3-liters. It may also be capped at around 150 hp, roughly half that of the Yaris and Corolla. Toyota may offer it with both a six-speed manual transmission and an eight-speed automatic.
A key difference between the Toyota GR Starlet and the brand’s other hot hatches is that it won’t have a trick all-wheel drive system. Instead, power will be sent exclusively through the front wheels.
In Japan, the new model could be priced between 2.5 million yen (~$16,000) and 2.8 million yen (~$18,000). While it’ll likely be sold in select markets, the U.S. almost certainly won’t be one of them.
