FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Yaris Hybrid-R unveiled

Toyota has revealed full details and images of the most outrageous Yaris it has ever produced, the Hybrid-R.

Teased numerous times ahead of its world debut at the Frankfurt motor show next week (here, here and here), the adventurous city-car concept delivers even more performance than Toyota led us to believe.

Employing hybrid technology inspired by Toyota’s Le Mans racing program but unlikely to hit public roads in the near future, the Yaris Hybrid-R delivers a total power output of no less than 313kW, by combining a highly-strung direct-injection turbocharged 224kW/420Nm 1.6-litre engine with two 45kW electric motors driving the rear wheels.

The engine was developed by Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) according to FIA rules for a Global Race Engine to be used in motorsport disciplines such as the World Rally Championship and the World Touring Car Championship. Displacing 1595cc, the 300hp turbo-four is boosted by a Garett GTR2560R turbo with up to 2.5 bar of boost pressure and can rev to 7500rpm.

But the piping-hot Yaris concept also features "intelligent" electric four-wheel drive capability, and its twin rear motors generate electricity during braking to supplement the petrol engine during acceleration.

As in Toyota's TS030 hybrid Le Mans racer, braking energy is stored in a super capacitor, the high power density and fast charge/discharge speeds of which Toyota says “are perfectly suited to the requirements of sporty driving on a track, which requires brief and immediate bursts of power”.

The super capacitor can release the energy recovered under braking for a maximum duration of 10 seconds, while the total power of the two electric motors is limited to 30kW.

A third 45kW electric motor located between the engine and the six-speed sequential transmission operates as an advanced traction control system. When there’s too much engine torque for the front wheels to handle, the motor converts it into electric energy and directs it to the rear wheels, while the twin rear motors can alter the torque distribution between the rear wheels, effectively acting as a torque vectoring differential.

The two-mode system includes a steering wheel button to select between ‘track’ mode, in which the rear electric motors offer a full 90kW for up to five seconds, and ‘road’ mode, in which engine output and the amount of energy distributed by the super capacitor is reduced.

Depending on battery charge, the Yaris Hybrid-R can also be operated in full electric mode for short distances.

Befitting its red-hot positioning, the Yaris concept wears new headlights, a wider front grille, a front bumper with two large air intakes and LED daytime running lights, and black and blue details designed to contrast with the white body colour.

Wrapped by flared wheel-arches are bespoke 18-inch TRD wheels with 225/40 R18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres, grooved and perforated brake discs gripped by six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear, and a motorsport-style quick-release fuel cap

A large rear bumper diffuser, an exhaust outlet framed by two air extractors and a roof-mounted spoiler complete the look, while matching-colour dual-tone Recaro bucket seats feature black leather side bolsters and blue Alcantara trim and pedals from the 86 coupe are fitted.

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