Toyota could launch a new SUV based on the Yaris

One step forward, one step back. Toyota is on everyone’s lips this week following the arrival of the new GR Yaris, the most souped-up and radical version of the Japanese city car. It is no wonder, then, that the brand could be developing a new vehicle that has little or nothing to do with this rally-bred car designed for public roads. Rumours suggest that Toyota could be working on a new SUV that would use the Yaris as its basis, a strategy that makes a lot of sense when we consider the steps the competition is taking.

Urban SUVs are booming, largely because it is a formula with ingredients that work very well. With this in mind, Toyota has decided to combine everything good about a city car with everything good about an SUV, producing a product ready to go head to head with models such as the Nissan Juke, the Renault Captur or the SEAT Arona.

For now it is too early to confirm details about this supposed new offshoot of the Japanese firm, but everything points to it appearing sometime this year. However, given that it will take the Yaris as its starting point, we can anticipate some details that could feature in this SUV, whose name is still unknown.

In terms of design, it will share the same design language used for the Japanese city car. With this in mind, a broad, imposing front end will be paired with sharply cut headlights, patterns that will be repeated at the rear although with different touches to give this new model the undeniable character of an SUV.

As for the mechanicals, we can expect this new member to remain faithful to the philosophy of the brand that houses it and to rely on hybrid engines. The most likely scenario is a 1.5-litre, 115 CV engine, supported by a second electric motor, appearing in this SUV. The model could also offer a purely petrol engine and, in the future, a fully electric version.

With this in mind, the Japanese house could unveil this new model at the next Geneva Motor Show. This is how Toyota intends to drastically expand its range, which will gradually receive certain updates based on the design language of the new Yaris.