Toyota's GR Yaris was a surprise for everybody. Who knew a small hatch can be so fun to drive, and also so competitive? Remember, it even destroyed its better brother - the Yaris GRMN, on the drag strip. Now, a report from the British magazine Autocar suggests that the Yaris GR will be improved even further. It will get the engine and the transmission from the American market's GR Corolla Morizo, and will also, most likely, get the Morizo nomenclature - a moniker that comes from Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda's motorsport pseudonym.

What will power the Toyota GR Yaris Morizo?

The current Yaris GR is powered by a 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 257 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, which is generally more than enough for a tiny hatch. But Autocar reports that the new Yaris GR - rumored to be called Morizo - will be offered with the same turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine from the GR Corolla Morizo edition. This means the Yaris GR will deliver a total of 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The new model will also lose the current six-speed manual transmission with a special close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox - also borrowed from the Corolla Morizo. Toyota only has to find a way to fit the Corolla's bigger trick exhaust into the supermini.

The GR Yaris Morizo will also be lighter than the current Yaris GR due to the removal of the rear seats. The model will however be offered with a basic stereo and single-zone climate control. All the changes will make the new supermini a little bit faster: the sprint from 0 to 62 mph will be made in 4.5 seconds, while top speed will go up to 155 mph. Just for reference, the Yaris GR goes from 0 to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds and up to a top speed of 143 mph.

When will the new Toyota GR Yaris Morizo arrive?

The development of the new, more powerful Yaris GR was confirmed by Gazoo Racing's chief engineer, Naoyuki Sakamoto. However, at this point, there is no info on when the new model will arrive. On the British market, the current Yaris GR is priced from £32,110, so you should expect the future Morizo edition to be a little bit more expensive than that. Sakamoto also confirmed that the long-waited two-pedal GR Yaris remains in development. It should be offered with a more advanced dual-clutch automatic gearbox, most likely an eight-speed unit.

FAQ

Q: What years did Harley make the Softail Standard?

The Softail as a model was announced in 1984. It is still in production today.

Q: Is a Softail Standard a good starter bike?

Yes, it would. It’s got a low seat, low center of gravity, and easily accessible power without being too over the top.

Q: What is the difference between a Softail Standard and Custom?

The original Softail Custom had a blacked-out engine with chrome covers, more chrome overall on the bike and a 21-inch front wheel.