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Toyota Yaris Hybrid-R Concept Hot Hatch For Frankfurt
Toyota, one of the world's pioneers in hybrid technology, has a hot hatch to show us in Frankfurt. And yes, of course it's a hybrid. It is the same Yaris Hybrid-R based concept which was teased in the form as a sketch last month and before that with stylized 'R' logo.
Yaris Hybrid-R Concept is a sporty take on the regular hybrid Yaris three door hatchback. And that is the best part about this concept. While it may be a concept now, it looks like it could transition into a production car with little or no modification. We hope it does. Here are the facts.
For use in the Hybrid-R Concept the engineers at Toyota Motorsport GmbH have developed a specially tuned, direct injected turbocharged 1.6 liter engine capable of delivering 300 HP.
What's special about the engine is it was developed to comply with FIA rules for a Global Race Engine, which means it will be used by Toyota in motorsports. A 6 speed sequential gearbox handles power delivery.
The engine is aided by not one, but two electric motors, thus providing the hatch ‘intelligent" all wheel drive capability.
The two electric motors drive the rear wheels individually. These are the same engines that feature in the regular Yaris hybrid.
The motors generate 60 HP each and combined with the race spec engine, deliver an impressive final power output of 420 HP. That's 420 HP powering a small hatchback!
While manufacturers such as Ferrari derive technology from motorsports they are deeply involved in (F1), the same applies for Toyota. The Hybrid-R Concept makes use of supercapacitors instead of batteries, just like the TS030 Hybrid Le Mans racer.
Why supercapacitors? They can charge and discharge electricity quickly (though they cannot retain it as long as batteries can), which is exactly what a high performance vehicle requires.
Interestingly, there is a third 60 HP electric motor located in between the engine and the transmission. But this one's primary function is to charge the supercapacitors during deceleration and extract and deliver power from them to the rear wheels during acceleration.
The wheels on the Yaris Hybrid-R Concept measure 18 inches and are shod in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres.
Six piston calipers at the front and four piston calipers at the rear push against grooved and perforated brake discs.
The design of the concept remains mostly the same as the regular Yaris Hybrid, except for the front air splitter and the rear bumper. Both the front and the rear feature large secondary air intakes.
The key design feature is the continuous blue highlight that makes up the side skirts and the front lip segment that surrounds the honeycomb grille mesh.
The sporty styling package includes taillights and the Daytime Running lights, which are LED units. Completing the styling package are, the spoiler, the diffuser and the blue tipped hexagonal central exhaust outlet.
While no images of the interior are available, the PR states its equipped with Recaro bucket seats with black leather side bolsters and blue Alcantara. The steering wheel is wrapped in Alcantara as well.
Like in a high end sports car, the steering wheel features a driving mode selector button. This toggles among "Track", "Road" and "Boost" modes.
"Good to know
- 40 hp for 10 seconds in "road" mode
- 120 hp for 5 seconds in "track" mode
- Torque vectoring: the amount of torque channelled to each rear wheel can vary thanks to the rear electric motors
- Advanced traction control: third electric motor redirects extra amount of torque as electric energy to the rear wheels"
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