Tag Archives: G16E-GTS

NEWS

Lexus LBX Morizo RR Original Edition – limited to 100 units in Japan

The Lexus LBX is one of the most unique luxury products available; it is not designed to meet the practical needs of a housewife.

Instead, it is crafted as a “favorite sneakers” that is perfect for those who want to enjoy the thrill of driving on weekends.

If the standard hybrid version is already exciting enough, those who can afford it will surely want more—the Lexus LBX Morizo RR, powered by a 300 hp engine from the GR Yaris.

The result is a crossover that is agile, fast, and powerful, especially when equipped with a manual transmission.

Adding to this, Lexus is now introducing the LBX Morizo RR Original Edition, which closely resembles the specifications of the concept model LBX Morizo that debuted in January 2024.

The exterior of this vehicle is adorned with a Sonic Chrome paint finish, complemented by Morizo yellow on the brake calipers and accents on the top of the grille.

Inside the cabin, you’ll find yellow seatbelts, along with Ochre trim similar to that used in the Lexus LC 500.

The Lexus LBX Morizo RR is available with a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic gearbox, just like the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.

In Japan, Lexus is limiting the sale of the LBX Morizo RR Original Edition to just 100 buyers.

NEWS

Toyota puts new G20E engine in GR Yaris M Concept

As the largest automotive manufacturer, Toyota rarely disappoints its fans during the Tokyo Auto Salon events.

For the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota unveiled a prototype hot hatch known as the GR Yaris M Concept.

Unlike the standard GR Yaris, the GR Yaris M Concept is equipped with a 2.0-liter inline-four engine (code-named G20E) that replaces the existing three-cylinder G16E-GTS engine.

What’s even more surprising is that the new engine is not positioned at the front; instead, it is placed in a mid-ship layout.

According to Toyota, these changes aim to explore the potential of the GR Yaris hot hatch, and they also plan to race this vehicle in the Super Taikyu series.

This prototype will be fully tested on the racetrack while receiving valuable feedback from professional drivers, including Morizo (Akio Toyoda).

The existence of the GR Yaris M Concept raises a question: is this a significant indicator of the upcoming new MR2 model?

NEWS

New gen GR86 to replace Subaru boxer engine with GR Yaris inline-3 turbo – report

The tighter current emission regulations have forced Toyota to shorten the lifespan of the existing rear-wheel-drive GR86 model to make way for a replacement model.

According to a report from the Japanese media Best Car Web, the new generation Toyota GR86 will replace the existing 2.4-liter naturally aspirated Subaru flat-four engine with the G16E-GTS three-cylinder engine found in the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.

This ‘heart’ change is seen as a game-changer for the GR86, considering the purest Toyota sports car has relatively low horsepower (228 hp) compared to its competitors. For comparison, the GR Yaris and GR Corolla can produce 300 hp each.


In addition to the engine swap, Toyota will also add a hybrid system to the new GR86 with a setup similar to that found in the off-road SUV model Land Cruiser Prado (250 Series). Overall, this new GR86 can unleash more than 300 hp to power the rear wheels through a choice of manual or automatic transmission.

This is not the first time news of a powertrain change for the GR86 has been reported. According to the same source last year, Toyota was said to be replacing the Subaru platform to make way for the shorter Lexus IS chassis.

Certainly, the new generation Toyota GR86 with its hybrid engine setup seems poised to close the existing power gap in the compact sports car segment and at the same time delight its fans worldwide.