Automotive: Little Devil Car Review

El Padre · 2023-09-07T11:02:14Z

Discover the 'Little Devil' that challenges supercars. El Padre and the WatchProSite community discuss the GR Yaris and other hot hatches.

El Padre introduces a 'Little Devil' that challenges supercars on winding mountain roads, a vehicle that many US-based enthusiasts might not recognize. This post highlights how a car's agility and power-to-weight ratio can often outperform raw horsepower in real-world driving conditions, sparking a lively discussion among collectors about the allure of high-performance hot hatches.

Key Points from the Discussion

The 'Little Devil' is considered one of the meanest cars of the last 20 years, with its low weight contributing significantly to its ability to keep pace with, or even surpass, much more powerful supercars on challenging roads.
The car in question, the GR Yaris, features a manual 6-speed, all-wheel drive, and a turbo, making it a highly desirable and engaging driver's car. There is also a 'track' version available.
The GR Yaris was ranked 3rd in EVO magazine's Car of the Year, behind a 911 Turbo and a Lamborghini, and was lauded as the quickest car for navigating typical UK roads.
The 'Little Devil' has an official power rating of 222 hp for 1230 kilos, equipped with an LSD, but dyno tests often show around 280 hp, with potential for easy upgrades to 320 hp or even extreme modifications reaching 740 hp from its 1.6L 3-cylinder engine.
This car embodies the tradition of brutally efficient 4WD vehicles, excelling at finding grip. While some prefer slower, sharper FWD hatchbacks or RWD coupes, the GR Yaris is celebrated for still offering a manual gearbox.
The Subaru Impreza P1, another 'little devil' of its time, featured 300 hp for 1280 kilos and 4WD, demonstrating similar 'no limits' performance on the road.

The Discussion

VinnieD

Sep 7, 2023

Well done to Toyota for bringing some craziness to the streets: they need it nowadays

bimbeano

Sep 7, 2023

Destroying supercars I would say This is probably the meanest car of the last 20 years, a real beast. 20 years ago I saw a film made by EVO magazine of a little Clio 2 RS with 172 hp easily (very easily) keeping up with 500 hp monsters in the mountains, this made me realize I didn't want a supercar anymore. There is soo much more fun to be had in a fast hot hatch because of the low weight. I used to say 'They don't make them like that anymore' until the Yaris GR came out. A friend of me has one

India Whiskey Charlie

Sep 7, 2023

In the US, we do get the Corolla version with 1.6 litre 3-cylinder producing 300 hp.

Arronax

Sep 7, 2023

Very much in the tradition of brutally efficient 4wd cars and it seems to be able to find grip everywhere. Personally I prefer a slower, sharper fwd hatchback or rwd coupe or convertible which I find more fun but it's all a matter of taste. The brainchild of Akio Toyoda, it remains to be seen if Toyota will stay the course with GR or not, for the time being we shall rejoice that it's still possible to purchase such a car with a manual gearbox!

@lberti

Sep 7, 2023

I drove this when it came out! I had a red one (perfect color for a devil!!) Manual 6 speed, all wheel and turbo! What else do you want !?!? if i remember correctly there is also a sort of "track" version of this little devil!? I really considered this car as a second car and daily commuter, but at the end the train won! I still think of this car

@lberti

Sep 7, 2023

And then came the clio 3.0 v6 phase i and phase ii....!!!!

Key Points from the Discussion

Continue the conversation

More from this Forum