Toyota sketches 300kW Yaris

Toyota has released the first sketch of a Yaris concept that will drive all four wheels via a 298kW petrol-electric drivetrain.

Teased earlier this month ahead of its world debut at the Frankfurt motor show on September 10, the three-door ‘Yaris R’ is designed to demonstrate the performance potential of hybrid motoring.

No new information has been announced, but Toyota previously said the R hybrid concept would deliver more than 400hp (298kW) via the same Toyota Hybrid System-Racing (THS-R) technology seen in the brand’s TS030 race car, which finished second behind Audi in this year’s Le Mans 24-hour endurance race.

Rather than a development of Toyota’s 1.5, 1.8, 2.5, 3.5 or 5.0-litre petrol-electric drive systems, European reports say the Yaris R will be powered by a Toyota Motorsport-designed 1.6-litre petrol engine and two electric motors.

As in Toyota’s TS030 Le Mans racer, recovered braking energy is stored in a super-capacitor and fed back into the powertrain, offering a performance boost similar to forced induction.

Toyota says “dual mode control allows the car’s performance to be tailored to suit either road or racetrack” and that its super-capacitor technology is “suitable for use in a sports car”. Indeed, it could eventually be the hybrid solution for more power in Toyota’s lauded 86 coupe.

The Yaris R is not to be confused with either the Yaris Hybrid that went on sale last June in Japan, where the Yaris is known as the Vitz, or the limited-edition Vitz GRMN Turbo, 200 examples of which were announced earlier this month for Japan. It is powered by a 112kW/206Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four.

Toyota will also use the Frankfurt show to reveal its latest fuel cell concept vehicle, and could unveil a concept that previews an all-new hybrid sports car positioned above the 86 at the Tokyo show in November.

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...

Don't forget to register to comment on this article.