Breaking news: The boss of one of the world’s rarest and most exclusive hypercar companies responsible for record-smashing, top-speed machines drives a small, three-cylinder Toyota hatchback to work.
So, he’s human after all. Except… he’s not, because Christian von Koenigsegg (pictured below, middle)—boss of… Koenigsegg—doesn’t just drive any small, three-cylinder Toyota hatchback. He drives a Toyota GR Yaris, which is one of the world’s very finest hot hatches.
“Nothing like a little three-cylinder madness for the morning commute,” CvK said on Instagram. “I love small cars!”
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As do we, Christian. Small cars are brilliant. Especially ones built by a rally team that are then converted to road use by way of a couple of number plates and indicators. In fact, it barely even qualifies as a regular Yaris because of its WRC duties, first and foremost.
Under the hood lies the thing CvK is most happy about: the GR Yaris’ 1.6-liter, three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, developing 276hp and 390Nm of torque in the updated version (up from 257hp and 360Nm in the original car). Sounds great. Does what you want it to.
CvK obviously has a soft spot for three-pots because he designed and built one and called it the ‘Tiny Friendly Giant.’ It was a 600hp camless wonder originally destined for use in the Gemera, before being shelved because most buyers wanted the V8 Gemera instead. Shame.
“That technology [three-cylinder] is still interesting,” CvK told TopGear.com last year. “We’re still working on it. We might eventually do it in the Gemera one day in some version.”
When we politely asked if CvK could make a 600hp Koenigsegg city car, he replied: “We have ideas on the Eggster! Like a sub-brand!” Naturally, he was joking—but we’re not. Because the boss of one of the world’s rarest and most exclusive hypercar companies responsible for record-smashing top-speed machines really rather likes small, three-cylinder hatchbacks.
Christian von Koenigsegg drives a Toyota GR Yaris to work:
NOTE: This story first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
