Toyota's 400hp Yaris Hybrid-R Concept Is The Coolest Hot Hatch We've Seen All Year

Toyota has announced that it will reveal a bonkers 400hp Yaris Hybrid-R concept at next month's Frankfurt motor show. The concept's 400hp figure (yes, four hundred) makes the Hybrid-R 5.6 times more powerful than the current 72hp 1.5-litre Yaris Hybrid production car we all know and love accept.

Under the bonnet of the Hybrid-R concept, you won't find 2JZ fire power, however. What you get is a 1.6-litre GRE unit (Global Race Engine) developed by Toyota Motorsport. Two beefy electric motors sit on the rear axle for additional power and four-wheel drive.

Much like Toyota's TS030 Hybrid Le Mans race car, the Yaris Hybrid-R concept stores energy from braking in a super capacitor, which releases power when called upon. The result, says Toyota is 'a highly focused machine, designed to deliver the maximum driving pleasure, both on road and track.

Until we see this tech trickle down to production cars however, this remains the coolest thing you can do with a hybrid...

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