GR Supra

Make
Toyota
Segment
Coupe

One of the coolest hot hatches Americans can't buy is proving to be a solid success in Germany, a country that knows a thing or two about enthusiast cars. After all, this is the land of the M3, the GTI, and the RS3. Toyota says that last month alone, over 1,100 examples of the GR Yaris were sold in the beer-loving nation, following sales kicking off there last fall. As the second model developed by the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team (the GR Supra was the first), the turbocharged three-cylinder proves great things come in small packages. It's rated at "only" 260 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque but is very lightweight, tipping the scales at just 2,822 pounds.

Power is directed to all four wheels through a six-speed manual. Zero to 60 mph requires less than 5.5 seconds. Other features include forged BBS wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials. At this point, there's still no positive word from Toyota on whether a North American market introduction is forthcoming.

What we do know is that last summer Toyota USA posted a tweet on its official Twitter account asking: "Does the North American market need another hot hatch? Let us know what you think!" Hey, at least they're thinking of us. And yes, the overwhelming response was very much in favor.

And if that wasn't enough, a petition was started on Change.org requesting for the automaker to give us the little AWD hot hatch. Toyota listened, but its response was not ideal. A GR Yaris landing page was created on Toyota's USA website and the text acknowledges the car is "stirring up an outcry in North America over its absence."

Unfortunately, there was also this sentence: "While the GR Yaris isn't coming to the US, perhaps it's time the US got a Toyota hot hatch to call its own." Perhaps that'll be a Corolla hot hatch, complete with a six-speed manual. Keep those fingers crossed.