The Toyota GR Yaris Engine Is Reportedly Headed For A Small Lexus SUV

Toyota and its Gazoo Racing are clearly advocates of the hot hatch. The pair turned the humble Yaris into the practically-bespoked rally homologation special, before using its tech in the GR Corolla.

It was only a matter of time before it’d turn its attention to the booming market of hotted-up crossovers, and a new report from Japan suggests the Lexus LBX has been lined up as the first.

According to Mag-X, which cites unnamed sources, the LBX will use the 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder in a state of tune as seen in the GR Yaris. If so, that’d give European cars 257bhp and 266lb ft of torque.

What’s more, it’ll apparently get the six-speed manual gearbox as standard too. An eight-speed torque converter is said to be available as an option, which could potentially be the Direct Automatic Transmission tech it’s been testing in Super Taikyu racing. Both will send power through Toyota’s GR-Four system, which had been developed especially for the Yaris.

It’s unclear if the LBX would use GR branding, as Lexus tends to badge its performance cars under the F moniker. However, Mag-X states GR badging will appear on “some parts” of the car.

If we’re to hazard a guess, expect styling to reflect that of the other GR-branded cars if Gazoo does intend to imprint its name on the LBX. The report also suggests wider tyres will require extended wheel arches, though these are said to be stick-ons rather than new panels.

It may not be long before we see the GR-tuned Lexus LBX. A statement to Japanese media from the firm said a new LBX will be shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January, and that it is “planning to exhibit a performance model with a strengthened powertrain.”