Blimey, Toyota has built a mid-engined GR Yaris concept

Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda loves the Nürburgring. In fact, under his pseudonym 'Morizo' he has competed in the Nürburgring 24 Hours on numerous occasions, so it’s perhaps no surprise to learn that Toyota’s theme for its display this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon is “carmaking at Nürburgring”.

And Toyota’s motorsport engineers have certainly been busy, chiefly via the medium of this GR Yaris M Concept that’s on display. And yes, it’s a mid-engined Yaris.

Apparently, privateer team Rookie Racing plans to compete in the Super Taikyu Series in this concept, so the standard turbo 3cyl engine has been ripped out of the front of the GR Yaris, with a mid-mounted 2.0-litre turbo four-pot taking its place. There’s no word on how much power the new engine is producing, but its placement should make the M Concept rather exciting to drive.

Toyota said it has deployed its ‘driver-first’ approach to testing, meaning its Gazoo Racing cars are “repeatedly driven to failure and then repaired in the extreme conditions of racing”.

It’s not just the M Concept on display at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Toyota is also showing off the stripped-out, liveried GR Yaris that it’ll enter into the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) in 2025. That car will actually deploy the GR’s new auto gearbox and will also be entered into the Nürburgring 24 Hours by Toyota Gazoo Rookie Racing, marking Toyota’s return to the race after a six-year break.

Also on the Toyota stand is the GR Yaris Aero Package, essentially a bodykitted hot hatch with lots of extra vents and a giant adjustable rear wing. Looks quite excellent to our eyes – let’s hope the package makes production.