Toyota Gazoo Racing has put out a new teaser finally revealing the launch date of the upcoming Toyota GR Yaris: January 10.
The hot hatchback, which was first spotted testing at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in July, was originally expected to make its debut at Rally Australia in November — but the vehicle’s premiere was delayed because of fires around Coffs Harbour, New South Wales.
Now we finally know when the car will really be revealed, and where: At the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon. But that’s for the GR spec. The regular Yaris hatchback will make its debut on December 15 during the Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival 2019.
In the teaser, the GR Yaris boasts the same unique camouflage we saw the Supra bear at Goodwood. It’s shown kicking up quite a bit of sand with “Master Driver Morizo” behind the wheel — and if you’re not quite sure who that is, let us clue you in: Morizo is none other than Akio Toyoda, CEO of Toyota.
Related: Learn more about the regular Yaris
“Personally, there’s nothing I like more than the smell of gasoline and the sound of a screaming engine!” Toyoda says in the teaseer. “This GR Yaris bring out the wild side in a gearhead like me.”
It’s pretty cool that the 75-year-old of the Toyota Motor Corporation is indeed such a gearhead, and kinda cute that he has his own racing persona. Though from what we’ve heard, insiders at the company don’t call him Morizo but rather “Top Gun,” and he holds the company’s S-class internal driving license, the highest rank available.
We must say, it does give the GR Yaris featured in the teaser extra appeal when you know the guy shredding sand with it is the company president.
Related: Toyota unveils 2020 Highlander in Miami
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