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We’re not sure what to make of renderings that recently surfaced in China. The images in question show a two-door Toyota Yaris hatchback with eye-catching visual changes.
From the front view, the spindle grille tacked onto the front fascia gives the Toyota a Lexus-like appeal. The side profile and rear shot reveal a body kit, a lowered stance, and an aggressive set of wheels. With the Toyota Motorsport GmbH division in Germany already tinkering and preparing a version of the hatchback for rally racing, a sportier Yaris could make sense in certain markets. The TMG Yaris includes a number of modifications including a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Toyota hopes to race in WRC by 2014.
[[posterous-content:pid___1]]While a Lexus-fied Yaris seems like a stretch, we wouldn’t mind seeing it out on a rally race. Despite the Yaris’ position on the bottom end of Toyota’s totem pole, the U.S.-spec car has good bones. During our most recent comparison of subcompact hatchbacks, the Yaris ranked third out of seven entrants:
“Exterior styling aside, the Yaris was an entrant that comes across significantly better than it looks on paper. With just 106 hp and 103 lb-ft on tap from its 1.5-liter engine, acceleration isn’t what you’d call brisk. But the gearing makes the most of the Yaris’ capability, providing acceptable acceleration in lower gears.”
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