The Toyota Starlet is still very much alive and well, but it’s just not in the way we know it. The modern version is essentially a rebadged Suzuki Baleno and offered only in select regions.
But reports from Japan have claimed that the future Starlet will be a pure Toyota effort. On top of that, there will be a GR version.
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Japanese motoring publication BestCar said that the model is currently being developed. It will ride on the same platform as the Japanese/European/Oceania version of the Toyota Yaris, and not a Daihatsu-based model. It is said that it will be shorter than the Yaris, possibly slotting in between the kei car and subcompact class.
But here’s the fun part: Gazoo Racing is reportedly involved in the Starlet revival plan. There are no specifics just yet, but the in-house tuning (and racing) division is said to want a rally version of it. Think of it as a junior GR Yaris, then.
It has been reported that Gazoo Racing is in the middle of developing a Toyota Starlet for Rally 4 class racing. Rules dictate that these must be two-wheel drive only, pack a 1.1-liter turbo (or smaller), and have a minimum weight of 1,080kg. Manufacturers who plan to join that class are also required to build 2,500 road going versions of the car it intends to race.
There are no specifics just yet, but BestCar has a few predictions. In line with Rally4 rules, the GR Starlet might be front-wheel drive only. It could use a downsized version of the GR Yaris’ 1.6-liter, three cylinder turbo, and power could be capped at 150hp. It might not sound like much, but shoving that much power in a hatchback about the size of a Wigo sounds rather spicy.
Toyota isn’t saying anything at the moment, but it’s said to be revealed by 2026.
