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Toyota GR Starlet to be launched in 2026 as an affordable and practical FWD hot hatch

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The news about the revival of the Starlet model has long been circulating online.

According to the Japanese publisher Best Car Web, Toyota is planning to reintroduce the Starlet model as a replacement for the discontinued Toyota Passo.

Not only that, the Gazoo Racing racing division also plans to produce a turbocharged hot hatch GR Starlet (unofficial name) that will serve as the basis for the WRC Rally 4 racing vehicle.

The new Starlet model may use the same TNGA-B platform as the Yaris, but with smaller dimensions.

Best Car Web estimates the dimensions of the Starlet to be 3,850 mm in length, 1,725 mm in width, 1,475 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,450 mm.

For comparison, the Toyota Yaris (TNGA platform) measures 3,940 mm in length, 1,745 mm in width, 1,500 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2,560 mm.

Unlike the GR Yaris, which uses the G16E-GTS 1.6-liter turbo engine, the GR Starlet may use a more simplified powertrain.

According to sources, the new hot hatch will be equipped with a 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-three engine based on the earlier 1.6-liter turbo engine, producing about 150 hp, front-wheel drive system, and a six-speed manual transmission.

Due to the absence of the all-wheel-drive GR-Four system, it also contributes to a lighter weight, approximately 980 kg, or 300 kg lighter than the GR Yaris.

Additionally, the actual production model of the Starlet is expected to appear in 2026, while the rally car Starlet will showcase its prowess in the 2027 racing season.

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