This Toyota GR86 gets a GR Corolla’s 300bhp 3cyl engine

This is a Toyota GR86 that’s got a small engine, medium stripes and large spotlights. It is a) an homage to the delightful Celica GT-Four rally car, b) definitely not a production car, and c) very cool.

Largely because that small engine is no ordinary engine. It’s the Scrappy Doo found in the US GR Corolla – a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, the same 1.6-litre turbo found in the equally Scrappy GR Yaris we get in the UK.

Of course, these aren’t plug ‘n play bits. According to Toyota, the hardest bit was shoving in the GR Corolla’s taller, transverse-mounted ‘G16E-GTS’ engine into a spot that normally houses a flat-four.

But shove it in they did, along with a performance intercooler, a better oil cooler, and a race-spec ECU. Despite these performance tweaks, the concept’s turbo three-pot still carries the US GR Corolla’s standard tune. Which means a full 300bhp and 273lb ft of torque.

That’s only slightly Scrappier than the UK GR Yaris’s 276bhp, and while Toyota hasn’t released any performance figures, one suspects they’ll be… good.

Especially since this Toyota has also shoehorned in that GR Corolla’s AWD system into a space normally occupied by a RWD setup too. In fact, the entire chassis has been subjected to a hammer to get everything lined up.

So, there’s a custom front subframe and bespoke engine mounts, along with “significant” modification of the front suspension to slot in the GR Corolla’s hubs, spindles and axles for the AWD.

Because Rally, Toyota fitted a set of custom coilovers all round – tuned to complement the new subframe – while the steering rack was adjusted “to ensure proper feel and clearances”.

The GR Corolla’s diff and housing was bolted into the GR86’s rear – to maintain the factory ratios, electronics and power distribution – while the rear axle itself was modified too.

Because Really Very Rally, there’s a full rollcage, six-point racing harnesses, some stripes and Gazoo Racing logos, mudflaps, a custom exhaust and the most important exterior mods: massive spotlights and a GT-Four-esque rear wing. Alloys look spot on too.

“The aim is to evoke memories of the legendary rally car that enthusiasts have admired on rally stages and in popular racing video games,” said Toyota USA’s motorsports GM Paul Doleshal. “That idea led to a formative conversation about how cool it would be to create a modern interpretation of such an iconic car.”

You know what’d be really cool? Giving this Toyota GR86 with a small engine, medium stripes and large spotlights a small production run.