Yesterday we brought you the insane 2017 Ford Fiesta WRC… Now we’re introducing one of its rivals. Say hello to the Toyota Yaris WRC.
Who knew a Yaris could look so extreme? Like the Fiesta, the Yaris WRC takes full advantage of the new, more lenient regulations set for the 2017 WRC season. The body kit looks like something off of a space ship. The wing mirrors have spoilers, it has a protruding splitter and colossal wheel arches. At the back, the Yaris has both vertical and horizontal diffusers and a monstrous rear wing.
It’s not just the appearance that impresses, either. The Toyota’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine kicks out a whopping 375bhp and 314lb ft of torque, all of which runs through a six-speed sequential gearbox. An active differential distributes the power between the front and rear wheels using proper mechanical diffs to get the power down to the best of its ability.
A lot of work has been put into controlling that power, too. It’ll have a massively adjustable suspension setup, mch like the Fiesta. It has also adopted a liquid-cooled braking system allowing Jari-Matti Latvala and Juho Hanninen, Toyota’s new drivers, to brake as late and as hard as possible.
The car has been developed by a team lead by four-time WRC champion Tommi Makinen who says “We are hopeful that this year we will be able to be competitive and get some good results. Can we win rallies? Why not. But the goal is a real championship push in 2018.”
The 2017 WRC season kicks off with the famed Monte Carlo rally which will run from January 19th to 22nd. How do you think the Yaris WRC will get on in its maiden season and how does it compare with the Fiesta WRC? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below or via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
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