Most of the Volkswagen Polo GTI’s rivals have long since departed. But a fresh report out of Japan suggests Toyota is mulling a front-wheel-drive version of its GR Yaris, complete with an automatic transmission…

While the Toyota GR Yaris has earned critical acclaim – including from the team here at Cars.co.za – it’s not exactly the most accessible hot hatch, with units in the second consignment destined for South Africa priced from R761 200. But what if the automaker built a somewhat more affordable, front-wheel-drive version?

Well, if the latest reports out of Japan are to be believed, that may just happen – though only in 2023, at the very earliest. According to Japanese publication Magazine X (via Drive), Toyota is considering creating a rival for the Volkswagen Polo GTI. This rumoured version of the GR Yaris would ditch its all-wheel-drive system, with power instead delivered to the front axle courtesy of a torque-converter automatic transmission (rather than a 6-speed manual cog-swapper).

The publication furthermore claims such a model would employ a detuned version of the full-fat turbocharged 1.6-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine used by the GR Yaris, though stops short of speculating about its peak outputs. For the record, the SA-spec version of the all-paw hot hatch makes a heady 198 kW and 360 Nm, while the DSG-equipped Polo GTI that a front-wheel-drive model would theoretically target offers 147 kW and 320 Nm.

The cabin of Toyota’s JDM-spec GR Yaris RS, complete with an auto (albeit CVT) shifter.

Of course, a lower-powered version of the GR Yaris technically already exists, but to call it a hot hatch would be something of a stretch. Yes, Toyota offers the Japanese market (which also gets the sharper GRMN variant) something a littledeceptively called the GR Yaris RS, which uses the same 3-door body shell but downgrades to a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine. Generating a comparatively meagre 88 kW and 145 Nm, this unit drives the front wheels via a (gasp) continuously variable transmission (CVT) with 10 virtual steps.

Still, if Toyota were to conjure up a front-driven, self-shifting GR Yaris making around the same power as the Polo GTI – at a similar price – we can’t help but think the world would be a far better place for it.

After all, with the likes of the Renault Clio RS, Opel Corsa OPC and Peugeot 208 GTi no longer in production (and the latestFord Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N not available in SA), the Polo GTI needs some competition. We’re pretty sure such a move would helpToyota recover the no-doubt hefty developments costthat came with creating the GR Yaris in the first place.

Here’s hoping it comes to fruition…