Toyota’s Gazoo Racing sub-brand is set to expand with the names of the first GR-badged variants of the GT86 and Toyota Yaris being trademarked across Europe, and a Toyota Gazoo-honed GT86 being shown in a social media preview video by Toyota's Spanish arm.
If the trademarks and preview video signify production performance variants, the limited-run Yaris GRMN will be followed by a more mainstream hot hatch offering tweaked by Gazoo Racing, as well as a more hardcore version of Toyota’s GT86 sports car.
Todo es cuestión de la pasión por la velocidad. #GT86 by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. pic.twitter.com/LYc5OqZo9r
— Toyota España (@Toyota_Esp) September 24, 2018
This development fits with Toyota’s aim to spread the influence of its Gazoo Racing division, with the upcoming Supra being honed by the motorsport sub-brand. Also forthcoming is a GR Sport-badged warm Yaris fitted with sporting styling elements inspired by the limited-run GRMN hot hatch.
It’s almost certain that both GT86 and Yaris models would get uprated power over their cooking variants. It is likely that the Yaris would be slightly tamer than the £26,296, 209bhp and 184lb ft Yaris GRMN. The new preview video's "passion for speed" caption suggests that the GT86 variant would be quicker than the standard model.
The GR-badged GT86 variant trademark comes near the end of the car’s current life cycle. The GR version could therefore be introduced in the second-generation GT86, due soon if the usual seven-year cycle is any guide. This will help to differentiate the car from the mechanically identical Subaru BRZ, produced in a joint venture between the two brands.
Toyota presented a hint at what the next GT86 could look like with a Gazoo Racing influence in the GR HV concept, revealed at last year’s Tokyo motor show. The brand also showed a hypercar concept using the GR badge, named Gazoo GR Super Sport, which is mooted for a motorsport entry after the introduction of the Le Mans hypercar class.
A Toyota spokesman couldn't comment on the trademarks.
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