Following the announcement of the government’s new Electric Car Grant (ECG), vehicle manufacturers have already begun offering discounted prices to customers.
Instead of waiting for the administration of the ECG scheme, several brands have introduced their own electric car grants with immediate effect.
Alfa Romeo will offer all customers a £1,500 discount on the price of its Junior Elettrica compact SUV. The offer covers all trim levels. This sees the entry-level Junior now priced from £32,405.
The new Alfa Romeo EV Grant can be used in addition to existing retail offers, including zero percent PCP finance deals, discounted servicing packages and free home charging.
Manufacturers offer money off
Chinese brand GWM, which sells the electric Ora 03 hatchback, has also revealed substantial savings to avoid delays on eligibility criteria for the official ECG scheme.
A £3,750 discount will apply across all Ora 03 trim levels, dropping the starting price of the Pure model to £21,425.
Toby Marshall, managing director at GWM UK, explained: “We don’t believe our customers should have to wait for the government to decide which vehicles qualify for the EV grant.
“So, we’ve taken matters into our own hands and matched the £3,750 saving, available to everyone, right now, on our Ora 03 range. With immediate availability, competitive finance, and exceptional value, there has never been a better time to go electric with GWM Ora.”
Leapmotor T03 is cheapest new EV
Other car manufacturers launching their own electric vehicle grant schemes to avoid delays include MG, which has committed ‘to work constructively with the Government to further increase the sale of EVs’.
The company is now giving customers a discount of £1,500 on MG4 EV and MGS5 EV models.
Budget brand Leapmotor became the first marque to offer a self-funded grant scheme, slashing £3,750 from the price of its C10 family SUV.
It has also cut £1,500 from the diminutive T03 city car. A new list price of only £14,495, makes the T03 the cheapest electric hatchback on sale in the UK.
Jaecoo is one of the growing number of Chinese brands offering new cars in the UK. The company has just announced prices for its second SUV: the Jaecoo 5.
Following the larger Jaecoo 7, which was driven by Motoring Research earlier this year, the Jaecoo 5 will take on the Ford Puma and Jeep Avenger
The new Jaecoo made its dynamic debut at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed. An all-female team drove the compact SUV up the famous hill climb.
Now Jaecoo has confirmed the full UK specification for its newest family SUV, set to cost from just £24,505.
Petrol power now, electric to follow
The entry-level Jaecoo 5 will undercut its key compact SUV competitors – including the Ford Puma, which costs from £26,580.
The car’s design is said to take ‘visual cues from nature, with body lines inspired by mountain ridges and dramatic natural landscapes’. This includes a bold ‘waterfall’ front grille.
At launch, the Jaecoo 5 comes with a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, also used in the Jaecoo 7. Delivering 147hp and 203lb ft of torque, the front-wheel-drive SUV is fitted with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Jaecoo plans to launch a fully electric version, too. More details of this model will be confirmed soon.
Set to arrive this October
Two trim levels will be offered for the Jaecoo 5 initially, with the Pure model at the headline £24,505 starting price. Standard equipment includes automatic headlights, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, plus a six-speaker Sony audio system.
For £28,000, the Jaecoo 5 Luxury upgrades to eight speakers and adds cooled wireless smartphone charging, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting and dual-zone climate control. The front seats are both heated and ventilated, with six-way power adjustment.
Both versions of the Jaecoo 5 will feature a seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty as standard, with three years of RAC Home Start cover also included.
Orders can be placed later this summer through Omoda and Jaecoo UK’s nationwide dealership network, now in 75 locations. The first deliveries to customers are expected in October 2025.
UK prices for the new electric Isuzu D-Max EV pickup truck have been announced, ahead of sales starting later this year.
Set to be the first battery-powered professional pickup on sale in Europe, the D-Max EV was revealed earlier this year at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham.
The EV shares the same robust ladder frame chassis as the diesel-powered D-Max, and will be capable of carrying a one-tonne payload. It can also tow 3.5 tonnes.
Aimed at commercial fleet users, demonstration examples of the D-Max EV will be made available before the first customer deliveries in March 2026.
Brisk performance, limited range
Isuzu will offer the D-Max EV in two trim levels. Buyers also have choice between Extended or Double Cab body styles.
All versions use a dual-motor setup, giving the D-Max EV full-time four-wheel drive. The two electric motors generate a combined total of 188hp and 240lb ft of torque.
Weighing in at 2,350kg, the D-Max EV can accelerate from 0-62mph in 10.1 seconds, making it noticeably quicker than its diesel-powered counterpart. Top speed is said to be in excess of 80mph.
A 66.9kWh lithium-ion battery gives the D-Max EV a range of just 163 miles when fully charged. A charging speed of up to 50kW means replenishing the battery from 10 to 80 percent could take one hour.
D-Max EV on sale later this year
Prices for the D-Max EV will start from £59,995 excluding VAT (£71,994 with VAT) for the eDL40 model in Extended Cab layout. Opting for the Double Cab increases the cost to £60,995 before VAT (£73,194 with VAT).
Standard equipment on the eDL40 trim level includes bi-LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and a dedicated Rough Terrain Mode.
Topping the range is the D-Max eV-Cross, priced from £62,495 excluding VAT (£74,994 with VAT). The flagship D-Max EV has grey rather than chrome-effect exterior trim, plus a larger 9.0-inch infotainment screen. An automatically dimming rear-view mirror and eight-speaker audio system are included, too.
Three new fully electric Subaru models are headed for the UK, as the Japanese company aims to become a bigger player in the European car market.
Leading Subaru’s electric revolution is the new Uncharted, a crossover SUV that shares its platform with the forthcoming Toyota C-HR+.
Designed to offer true off-road ability – like the cars Subaru built its reputation upon during the 1990s – the Uncharted will offer 210mm of ground clearance.
Subaru will confirm UK prices for the Uncharted compact SUV nearer the time. Sales will start in early 2026.
Heading into new territory
Three powertrain options will be available for the Uncharted, including two versions with front-wheel drive, plus a choice between 57.7 and 77kWh batteries.
The larger battery in the front-wheel-drive ‘Long Range’ model offers up to 363 miles of driving when fully charged. With a 22kW onboard charger included as standard, recharging the Uncharted from 10 to 80 percent could take 30 minutes.
Topping the range is an all-wheel-drive model, which uses dual motors to deliver a total of 344hp. This should mean 0-62mph in just 5.0 seconds, along with a 292-mile range on a full battery.
Standard equipment includes a squared-off steering wheel with paddle shifters, dual wireless charging pads and Subaru’s 14-inch infotainment touchscreen.
A trio of electric cars incoming
Joining the Uncharted in the electric Subaru range from 2026 is an updated version of the existing Solterra SUV. This has been heavily revised to address criticism of its battery range (and that of the related Toyota bZ4X).
Highlights for the 2026 Solterra include the same 344hp dual-motor powertrain as the Uncharted, along with a 73.1kWh battery that delivers a range of more than 310 miles.
Later in 2026, Subaru will also bring the E-Outback to the UK market. The car was revealed as the ‘Trailseeker’ at this year’s New York International Auto Show.
Based on the same platform as the Solterra, the E-Outback will offer increased luggage capacity and a 380hp electric drivetrain.
The Zapmap EV app has launched a new charging card. It promises to make using public chargers easier for electric car drivers.
The new Zapmap charging card allows drivers to start a charge with a quick tap at a compatible charging point. Zapmap says more than 40,000 EV chargers across the UK are already accessible.
Introducing the new charging card is the latest development for Zapmap, whose app has become a ‘go-to’ tool for EV owners. The new Zapmap charging card is said to work ‘seamlessly’ with the app.
How does the Zapmap charging card work?
Because it is fully integrated into the app, the new Zapmap charging card should be a slick alternative to contactless payments.
To get started, users add their debit card details within the Zapmap app and order their card. When they receive it, they simply tap the card at supported chargers. The session – and a receipt for it – will appear automatically within the app.
It means that drivers won’t have to juggle a multitude of different phone apps. They can also pay for charging while in the app, if they don’t want to use the physical card.
With more than 30 EV charging networks already supported, the company believes the new Zapmap charging card will make EV drivers feel more confident.
Also, as charging remains the number one barrier to motorists making the switch to electric cars, bosses hope the new Zapmap charging card will help encourage more people into EVs.
“We’re here to help drivers charging with confidence,” said Zapmap COO and co-founder Melanie Shufflebotham. “The new charging card makes that even easier.”
The new charging card is currently only available to Zapmap Premium Annual subscribers “for a small fee”. It will roll out to all Zapmap users later this summer.
Proving that good things come in small packages, the hot hatchback continues to provide power to the people. Nearly 50 years since the original Volkswagen Golf GTI established the blueprint, no type of car offers such a compelling blend of performance, practicality and price.
Whether you want a four-wheel-drive tearaway or a fun-sized pocket rocket, there is a car here to suit you. Guaranteed: every one will put a smile on your face when driving on your favourite road. Bang on-trend for 2026, our list even includes a choice of electric hot hatches.
Read on for the best new hot hatchbacks to buy this year, with our choices presented in alphabetical order.
Abarth 500e
The bright and boisterous Abarth 500e is among the first of the new electric hot hatchbacks. With a 42.2kWh battery and 152hp motor, it can zip to 62mph in 7.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 96mph. Activate the external speaker and you get a rorty (but oddly inauthentic) four-cylinder soundtrack, too.
The official range of 157 miles will come tumbling down if you drive the 500e with brio, which rather limits its practicality. Oh, and did we mention it almost costs Golf GTI money? Still this battery-powered upstart won’t fail to make you grin, and for that it should be celebrated. Order yours in radioactive Acid Green for the maximum Abarth attitude.
We said: ‘The Abarth 500e feels right at home in the city. It is eager to whisk you off the line and nips through gaps in traffic easily. It loses traction on greasy roads like an excitable terrier on a tiled floor, but once grip is found, it squats down and flings you towards the next junction.’
The Alpine A290 is another new electric hot hatchback. It marks Alpine’s first foray into the world of EVs, although the French marque plans to add a further six electric models to its range by 2030 – including a battery-powered version of the A110 sports car.
Based on the award-winning Renault 5, this stylish five-door hatch musters 220hp in the range-topping A290 GTS we tested: good for 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds. There is also a cheaper 180hp A290 GT, which adds an extra second to the benchmark sprint time.
We said: ‘Prod the D-for-drive button (borrowed from the A110) and the A290 feels instantly up for it. With 221lb ft going through its front tyres, this GTS version can break traction if you’re hard on the throttle out of corners. Yet it mostly feels smooth and eager, with enough punch to make swift progress.’
Some will insist a ‘proper’ hot hatchback needs to have three doors and drive through the front wheels only. To them, the Audi RS3 Sportback offers a nonchalant shrug (or perhaps a two-fingered salute) and gets on with being one of the fastest point-to-point cars on sale.
Its 2.5-litre turbocharged engine produces a mighty 400hp, along with a sonorous five-cylinder soundtrack that’s almost unrivalled at this end of the market. It also sprints to 62mph in a whisker over four seconds – faster than a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 – and features a plethora of safety and connectivity tech. However, even the most affordable hot Audi doesn’t come cheap.
We said: ‘Fast Audis, including the Quattro, long had a reputation for feeling aloof, but the RS3 is alert and utterly planted. Its supple damping is ideally calibrated for British B-roads, while the torque-vectoring diff hooks it around corners with unflinching tenacity. The Mercedes-AMG A45 S has more attitude and is ultimately more exciting, but it won’t cover ground any quicker. And the Audi’s calmer ride makes it easier to live with.’
The Focus will forever be regarded as a turning point for Ford. It reaffirmed that driving a family hatchback did not have to mean forgoing driver enjoyment. And the hot ST and RS versions were, of course, even better. Sadly, the current ST Edition is a last hurrah, with production of the Focus due to end later this year.
Ford has retained the standard ST’s 280hp turbocharged engine, but the Edition adds larger Brembo brakes, grippy Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres and KW coilover suspension. The latter drops the Focus lower to the ground, and can be manually adjusted with a spanner.
We said: ‘Flawed and expensive it might be, but the Focus ST Edition will be Ford’s last hot hatchback for the foreseeable future. For those who grew up lusting over sporty cars with a blue oval on the bonnet, that makes it instantly desirable and collectable.’
When all cars have become autonomous pods and the definitive history of the hot hatchback is finally written, the latest ‘FL5’ Honda Civic Type R will be rated among the greats. Remember how Chris Harris compared it to a Peugeot 205 GTI on Top Gear? Yep, it’s that good.
Naturally, the Type R is vastly quicker and more capable than the 40-year-old GTI. Yet it offers that same subjective sense of connection, from well-oiled gearshift to perfectly poised chassis. Yes, it’s seriously expensive, at £51,905, but keep it for 40 years and who knows, you might even end up with a money-making modern classic.
We said: ‘The turbocharged motor isn’t as maniacal as Type Rs of old, but it responds sharply and relishes high revs. A new Individual mode for the engine and chassis allows you to tailor the car’s settings, too. At a cold and slightly damp Thruxton, the new FL5 inspires more confidence than its predecessor. You can carve through corners with laser-like accuracy, enjoying the plentiful grip, fine balance and eventual willingness to oversteer.’
The A35 has the same aggressive styling, glitzy tech and slingshot traction as the Mercedes-AMG A45 S (coming up next), but is more affordable to buy and easier to insure. And if the 421hp flagship is scorching hot, this car’s vital statistics – 306hp, 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds and 155mph – are hardly lukewarm. As our review notes: ‘On British B-roads, most drivers this side of Lewis Hamilton will cover ground more confidently, and likely more quickly, in this baby Benz than the AMG GT supercar.’
Mercedes-AMG’s answer to the Golf R, the A35 is also more engaging to drive than the Volkswagen in its current Mk8 guise. Fit the optional AMG Aerodynamics package, including front dive planes and a lofty tailgate spoiler, and no-one will know you haven’t bought the turned-up-to-11 version.
We said: ‘Like the now-ubiquitous Golf R, the Mercedes-AMG A35 serves up driving fun, practicality and car-park kudos in a well-rounded package. It’s a car for the North Coast 500 and the North Circular. And that, surely, is what hot hatchbacks were all about in the first place.’
If you find yourself playing the 2026 version of Hot Hatchback Top Trumps, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S is the card to stick up your sleeve. The key number here is 421hp. If you think that looks mad written down, you should try being behind the wheel. Fortunately, 4Matic four-wheel drive helps keep this surface-level missile locked on target.
The most powerful production 2.0-litre engine in the world rockets the A45 S to 62mph in just 3.9 seconds. Top speed is 168mph. Crucially, it’s more thrilling to drive than the Audi RS3, while a host of AMG features make it easy and luxurious to live with. Just be prepared for a price tag north of £65,000.
We said: ‘Like the now-departed Ford Focus RS, it uses torque vectoring to create a rear-biased feel and effectively quash understeer. Also like the Focus, there’s a controversial Drift mode, which amplifies this effect by channelling torque to the outside rear wheel. Either way, this is no tyre-smoking C63 wannabe. My overriding impression was of superb balance and reassuring neutrality. Oh, and speed. So much speed.’
Whisper this, but you don’t need to splash out on a Cooper S to have a good time in a Mini. Even the basic Mini Hatch is a joy to drive, so you could find a few well chosen extras are all you need for a Mini adventure. Likewise, you might be tempted to stretch to the flagship Mini John Cooper Works, but this more extreme Mini is a little too unhinged for daily use.
The 178hp Cooper S sources its power from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, dispatching the 0-62mph sprint in around seven seconds. Its central exhaust pipes provide a naughty soundtrack to accompany the lively performance.
The Mini Hatch range was updated in 2024, with the Cooper being one of the marque’s final petrol-engined models before it goes fully electric. A battery-powered version of the hot hatch has already been revealed, available in two guises: 184hp Cooper E and 218hp Cooper SE. The latter offers up to 250 miles of range, according to Mini.
Few hot hatchbacks have generated as much anticipation as the Toyota GR Yaris. A genuine homologation hero – built to enable Toyota to compete in the World Rally Championship – the GR Yaris is a truly bespoke creation.
Now, five years after its initial release, Toyota has treated its all-wheel-drive supermini to a mid-life update. Included in the list of detailed tweaks is the option of an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, offered alongside the six-speed manual.
Power from the 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine has been upped to 280hp, dropping the 0-62mph time down to 5.2 seconds. Toyota has increased the price tag too, though, with the wildest Yaris now starting from £46,045.
We said: ‘Like all the greatest showroom-spec rally cars, from the Lancia Delta HF Integrale to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, the GR Yaris can be hustled regardless of the road or weather conditions.’
A hot hatchback legend, the latest ‘Mk8.5’ version of the Volkswagen Golf GTI may be the last before the famous badge goes fully electric in 2028. With a host of updates for this eighth-generation update, Volkswagen has at least ensured that the Golf GTI goes out on a high.
Only true GTI aficionados will be able to spot the changes on the outside, with a reprofiled front bumper and new badges for the front doors. Under the bonnet the venerable 2.0-litre turbocharged engine has been boosted to 265hp, but there is no longer the option of a manual gearbox. Using the seven-speed DSG transmission results in a 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds.
Almost as significantly, Volkswagen has updated the Mk8 Golf GTI’s frustrating infotainment system. There is a new, larger, central touchscreen, and ‘real’ buttons on the steering wheel instead of haptic touchpads.
We said: ‘This is a car that shrugs off the daily commute or school run, yet also relishes those rare moments on roads less travelled. An impressive all-rounder, then – and the same as it (mostly) ever was.’
That is the finding of a new survey by AA Accident Assist, which sought the views of more than 12,500 British motorists on road safety.
Only one in 20 (five percent) of respondents said they were unaware of the Highway Code rule about leaving a safe gap to other vehicles.
However, 25 percent of those surveyed said that, while they knew about the ‘two-second rule’, they deliberately disregarded it when driving.
Mind the gap!
Rule 126 of the Highway Code says that: ‘Tailgating is where the gap between you and the vehicle in front is too small for you to be able to stop safely if the vehicle in front suddenly brakes’.
It also recommends using a fixed object to help measure a two-second gap to vehicles in front, allowing for ‘time to react and stop if necessary’.
Official National Highways data shows that 147 people are killed or seriously injured on England’s motorways and major A-roads each year due to tailgating
Statistics from AA Accident Assist found that more than half (58 percent) of repairs carried out for its customers in 2024 required a new front bumper to be fitted.
‘An avoidable motoring risk’
The AA’s latest survey shows no change in attitudes towards tailgating since the organisation conducted similar research in 2023.
Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, said; “It seems driver behaviour towards tailgating remains unmoved, with it being an all-too-regular experience on the roads. Regardless of motorways or local streets, drivers feel intimidated by others following too close behind.
“Our workload shows that bumpers and the technology within them are the most common repairs. As well as vehicle parts, personal injury claims due to tailgating-related crashes are being made. In many cases, these crashes could be avoided simply by backing off the car in front.
“Nobody wants to spoil their summer holidays with an avoidable collision. By allowing at least a two-second gap between yourself and the car in front, you significantly reduce the risk of crashing into that vehicle.
“Similarly, if you are being tailgated, where safe to do so, pull over and let them pass. It is better to cut them loose rather than feel frustrated and try to slow them down.”
The car insurance industry estimates that more than 1,000 low-speed collisions occur on UK roads every day. That’s a lot of potentially expensive bumps and scrapes.
Because despite the lack of speed, the average repair bill for these incidents (where they are reported) exceeds £1,500.
The issue is partly to do with the size of parking spaces, and the increasingly large cars we try to squeeze into them.Legally, a parking space can be between 7ft 6in (around 2,300mm) and 8ft 10in wide (just under 2,500mm), but most are closer to the minimum.
Compare that to the width of a typical family hatchback – 5ft 9in, or 1,800mm – and you don’t have much room left either side of the car to work with, both for parking and getting out. If you drive a large SUV, the spaces will feel even tighter.
Tips to prevent parking damage
We all want to avoid parking prangs, so read on for our quick guide – including some tips from GEM Motoring Assist. It could save you a lot of money and a massive headache…
Check your mirrors
The first thing you should do, when it comes to driving in general, is make sure your mirrors are set correctly. Maximise what you can see behind and you’ll be a better driver – and better at parking.
Spacial awareness
Cars come in all different shapes and sizes, so familiarise yourself with your vehicle. Know where its extremities are, and learn what it can do in terms of turning radius. Mainly, this comes with experience.
Take your time
Parking safely is more important than doing so quickly. Plan your journey and allow enough time for parking. Aim to travel at times you know it won’t be busy. Have in your mind exactly where you’ll be able to park as easily as possible.
Don’t fight others for parking spaces, either. That’ll just put pressure on and increase the likelihood oftempers boiling over – not to mention an accident.
Use what you’ve got
Driver aids, such parking sensors, cross-traffic alert and a reversing camera can be hugely helpful, particularly in larger vehicles. Make good use of them and you can turn from a parking pariah into a space-saver overnight.
Clear view
Make sure all your windows, mirrors and cameras (if you have them) are clean, for ease of use. It’s no good having perfectly set-up mirrors if they are covered in road grime. The same goes for your lights if parking at night.
Reverse in, drive out
We suspect a great deal of those 1,000+ parking accidents each day are due to people are reversing out of spaces without due care or a clear view behind.
Avoid this by reversing into your desired parking space. That way, you can simply look ahead when the time comes to leave. If you must reverse out of a spot, do so very slowly and carefully, ideally with the guidance of a passenger or passer-by.
The world of restomods is awash with safari-style Porsche 911 builds, transforming the classic coupe into an off-road rally car.
Many focus on older, air-cooled 911s, but Kalmar Beyond Adventure has a more modern take on the genre. Indeed, the Kalmar RS-7 is a genuine alternative to a new 911 Dakar.
Using the 997-generation of the German sports car as its starting point, the rugged RS-7 is ready to tackle snow, sand, mud and just about anything else.
The ultimate ‘safari’ restomod
Beyond Adventure is the off-road side of Kalmar Automotive, the Danish sports car company founded by former Porsche test driver, Jan Kalmar.
Fresh from launching its Porsche 959-inspired 9X9 hypercar, complete with four-wheel drive and 930hp, the company has turned its attention back to a 911 restomod.
Kalmar believes the 997 is the newest 911 ripe for conversion. Later 991 and 992 models are built from a combination of bonded aluminium and steel, making a safari-style conversion impractical.
The RS-7 joins Kalmar’s range of other off-road models, based on Porsches as diverse as the Cayenne SUV and Cayman sports car.
RS-7 is ready for adventure
The widened wheel arches of the RS-7 are combined with a more purposeful aluminium front bumper, rally-style LED light pod and ducktail rear spoiler. Beneath the new Kevlar body is full-length aluminium protection for the car’s underside.
Michelin off-road tyres and TracTive hydraulic adaptive dampers are fitted as standard. The latter allow ground clearance to be adjusted between 210mm and 240mm – standing even taller than a Porsche Cayenne.
Kalmar has left the 911’s engine unchanged, but fitted a new limited-slip differential. Extra horsepower is available on request, however.
Build your own RS-7 restomod
No restomod Porsche would be complete without an interior makeover, so the RS-7 gains Recaro CS bucket seats trimmed in classic Pepita houndstooth fabric.
Kalmar removes the climate control and infotainment to save weight, replacing the audio system with a Bluetooth speaker. A new dashboard display is used to adjust the shock absorber settings.
Kalmar Beyond Adventure is open to fully bespoke builds, saying there isn’t a ‘no’ in the company’s vocabulary. If you can imagine it (and afford it), Kalmar can probably make it happen.
RS-7 prices start from €99,997 – equivalent to £86,700 – plus the added cost of supplying a donor 997-generation Porsche 911.
Four-time World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen, who is also the deputy principal of Toyota’s Gazoo Racing rally team, will be at the wheel of the H2 Concept.
It marks the continuation of Toyota’s experimentation with hydrogen power for racing, as the company explores options for carbon-neutral motorsport.
Zero emissions without a plug
Toyota has entered a hydrogen-powered GR Yaris hot hatch into a rally before. A previous model took part in a demonstration run as part of Rally Belgium in 2022.
This represented the first time Toyota had tested a hydrogen vehicle on public roads outside Japan. However, Toyota has now upped its game, installing the liquid hydrogen powertrain into a Rally2-specification Yaris.
On the World Rally Championship ladder, Rally2 is a step below full-blown Rally1 vehicles. It shows how seriously the Japanese marque is exploring hydrogen for motorsport.
Full WRC speed and sound
Toyota notes that using a regular internal combustion engine, but fuelled by liquid hydrogen, means the Rally2 H2 Concept delivers ‘near zero emissions’ – but with all the noise and performance of a regular rally car.
For its Finnish demonstration runs, the Rally2 H2 Concept will tackle the mixed-surface Harju stage, which acts as the opening test on day one of Rally Finland. A second appearance on day two of the event is also planned.
Between stages, Toyota will display the GR Yaris Rally2 H2 Concept alongside its hydrogen-fuelled Mirai and Tundra models.
As part of this month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Toyota also displayed the GR LH2 Racing Concept, a hydrogen racer based on its current GR010 Hybrid Hypercar.
