Yahoo Autos Remember When Toyota Made a Real Hot Hatch?
Early this year, Toyota showed off a hot rod version of its Yaris hatchback, but the company hasn't said whether this car will ever make it to the US. Thirty years ago, Toyota did sell Americans a genuine hot hatchback, the Corolla FX16. Believe it or not, this little Corolla was a legitimate rival to the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
The Corolla FX16 used the same 1.6-liter 16-valve four-cylinder as two of Toyota's performance legends, the MR-2 and the rear-drive Corolla GTS. Its 108 horsepower was just good enough for a sub-10-second 0-60 mph run, but the Corolla FX16 wasn't really meant for stop-light drag races.
As Motorweek notes in this period review, the FX16 was a gem on the track and on twisty roads, where its light chassis and excellent steering made it a joy to toss around. The FX16 wasn't fast even in its day, but was a ton of fun.
Being a Toyota, the Corolla FX16 was well-built, practical, and efficient too. Everything you need from a hatchback.
We hope that Toyota's hot Yaris makes its way to the US with some of the character that made the FX16 so great. It would be an excellent front-drive companion to the Toyota 86.
You Might Also Like
