Toyota is gearing up to display two new special editions of the Yaris at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2020 – the Yaris TRD and the Yaris Modellista. Revealed digitally in the run-up to the show (which will begin on January 10), the TRD version is the more dynamic-looking model, while the Modellista looks more posh and premium.
Not to be mixed-up with the Yaris sedan on sale in India, both special-edition models are based on the 2020 Yaris hatchback that was revealed in October last year. The Yaris TRD adopts an aggressive look and sports accessories from GR Parts (Toyota’s performance division) including a front spoiler, side skirts, and rear spoiler – all finished in matte black with red highlights. Black 16-inch forged alloy wheels, a front bumper garnish, side decals, fin-type aero appendages near the wheel arches, door visors and tinted windows, all complete the look.
The Modellista kit, on the other hand, adds to the appeal of the standard hatch without coming off as too extreme. It employs body-coloured side skirts, a front spoiler and rear bumper garnish. Splashes of chrome on the wing mirrors, door handles and around the headlights, along with the choice of 14- or 15-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, complement the package. Interiors too get special attention in the form of camel-coloured seat upholstery and dashboard accents.
Slated to launch in Japan on February 10, the all-new MY2020 Yaris hatchback is the first model to be underpinned by Toyota’s TNGA platform for compact cars (dubbed GA-B). Claimed to be 40 percent more rigid than the outgoing car, the fourth-gen Toyota gets three petrol engines – a 1.0-litre mill, a 1.5-litre unit and a 1.5-litre engine with hybrid technology and electric four-wheel drive. Gearbox options include manual as well as CVT automatic transmissions.
In addition to the jazzed-up TRD and Modellista versions, Toyota is also touted to take the wraps off the full-blown GR Yaris hot hatch from its Gazoo Racing division in Tokyo.
With the Yaris sedan already on sale in our market, the chances of the hatchback making it to our shores are extremely bleak. The India-spec Yaris gets a 107hp, 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine mated to either a manual or a CVT automatic transmission. It will soon be upgraded to meet the BS6 emission norms and will carry a sticker price that starts from Rs 8.76 lakh (ex-showroom). The sedan rivals the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento and Skoda Rapid in our market.
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