The Nostalgear family, as well as being quite numerous, also has an average age around 35 years old. Every each and one of us, dreams about a timeless car, often historical, and some of us have it (someone had to make it!)
Personally, if there’s a car class that I really love, it is the Hot Hatch. Lots of horsepower equals to so much fun, especially if it is in a very little space.
I grew up with the myth of the Renault 5 Turbo or the 205 T16 (little spoiler, we found one and we’ll tell you soon about it) - or for the JDM lover, the Nissan Sunny GTi-R (very rare finding that one).
So today, we’re traveling to Japan, taking a step towards the future and we’re going to talk about a curious Hot Hatch, probably an instant classic that for those who love this category, certainly cannot have gone unnoticed.
We’re talking about the Yaris GR, The Little Pest.
Here at Nostalgear we love stories, especially those who involve cars and people. This time we met Kevin. A petrol head that like most of us, grew up with tiny models and posters on the walls, dreaming about Ferrari and Lamborghinis - at least, this is what we do in Italy.
Growing up, Kevin kept his motors passion, and his first car was a Fiat Punto 1.1 Fire (who the hell didn’t have one?). Years passed by and thanks to his Entrepreneurial (had to rewrite this word a couple of times…) spirit, he opened his own construction company, which helped to put, among the other cars, a Yaris GR in his garage.
This little beauty was conceived to compete in the WRC, but as the Covid screwed us in 2020/2021 - even the Toyota got screwed over because the WRC rules changed last minute, and for the 2021 edition they kept the old WRC rules, and therefore the cars too.
Anyway, with its 1280kg of metals and refined plastics, Toyota brought a real badass to the table, all mechanical and reduced to the essential - with a not so much showy body (it’s pretty anonymous actually).
With a small 1.6-liter, 3-cylinder engine that brings 261hp with it, unloaded on the 4-wheel drive and its permanent all-wheel drive system, based on two Thorsen mechanical differentials and an electronically controlled central differential, this little beast can best fulfill your wishes (normal, sport or track - which one will you choose?).
Last but not least, there is a wonderful six-speed manual gearbox and the classic handbrake that, if pulled, shows a mechanical link that detaches the rear differential, just to enjoy every hairpin turn.
But let’s get back to our story and this specific Yaris GR.
Like every love story, love at first sight it’s a must have for the sake of the tale - and that’s what happened with Kevin.
Kevin happened to be in a Toyota dealership, and he wasn’t there to buy one, but when he saw that white Yaris GR in prompt delivery, well, it was already his.
No. You’re not yet color blind. It’s not white, duh…It was wrapped by D-Factory Italy (chapeau for the job guys) because Kevin wanted to make it unique - mission accomplished Kevin.
Little Pest is the name that stands out on the car body of this Japanese piece of work - and we could say that Kevin knows a thing or two.
He told us that he drives Little Pest every weekend and, in every condition, and that he also has participated in the “Crazy Run”, an event that takes place every year in the center of Italy (check it out, it’s really wild).
It’s always nice to be able to hear out people that really love engines, cars, and stuff - who smile when they talk about their car experiences, and with no doubt, Kevin it’s one of these people.
And what about you? Does this little Hot Hatch teases you?
Let us know.
You can find Kevin and his Little Beast on Instagram (@kevintallarico)
The author of this photos is @supercarsofmilan