Video: The 2021 Toyota GR Yaris in action
Toyota has released a promotional video of the upcoming GR Yaris hot hatch, with more than a glancing nod to its rally roots.
The 2021 Toyota GR Yaris has been previewed in a one-minute video released by Toyota Gazoo Racing in Japan.
The short film cuts footage of the Gazoo Racing Yaris World Rally Car together with video of the upcoming GR Yaris road car as the cars race down a dilapidated single-lane mountain road.
Curiously, the all-wheel-drive Toyota GR Yaris is shown drifting around corners – this could be related to the front-to-rear power dial on the car, or possibly just some artistic licence taken by the filmmakers to help tie the model back to its rallying roots.
The type of mountain racing shown in the video – known as touge – has a cultural significance for Japanese car enthusiasts, as it not only spawned drifting itself, but led to cult icons such as the Initial D series and the The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift feature film.
While the Toyota Yaris has historically been a popular entry-level model aimed at younger people (although perhaps no more), the vehicle has not previously been considered a performance car, creating a challenge for the brand to convince buyers it is the real deal.
Luckily, we know better: read our GR Yaris prototype review here.
Watch the video below and let us know what you think in the comments.