Watch: Toyota president Akio Toyoda takes a GR Yaris, shows how to drive

  • The particular GR Yaris that Toyoda was driving was equipped with various rally-inspired parts and it was seen drifting around a set of cones.
Akio Toyoda has been known as a keen automotive enthusiast. (Image: Youtube/Toyota Gazoo racing)
Akio Toyoda has been known as a keen automotive enthusiast. (Image: Youtube/Toyota Gazoo racing)

Toyota president Akio Toyoda may have made headlines giving his controversial opinions about electric vehicles, but when it comes to cars and especially high-performance ICE vehicles, he is is a genuine enthusiast who loves driving. The world got a chance to see his driving skill recently when he took the GR Yaris hot hatch for some adrenaline-pumping moves.

Also Read : Toyota, Suzuki, Daihatsu join hands for a mid-engine sportscar: What's cooking?

Toyoda was invited to an event in Tokyo recently where the Japanese automaker previewed its new WRC car and announced the motorsports plan for the 2022 calendar year.

Also check these Cars

Find more Cars
Toyota Land Cruiser 250 (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
Engine Icon2998 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 1 Cr
View Details
Toyota Bz4x (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
BatteryCapacity Icon72.8 kWh Range Icon405 Km
₹ 70 Lakhs
View Details
Toyota Glanza (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon1197.0 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 7.18 - 9.45 Lakhs
Compare
View Offers
Toyota Land Cruiser (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon3346 cc FuelType IconDiesel
₹ 2.10 Cr
Compare
Toyota Innova Hycross (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon1987.0 cc FuelType IconMultiple
₹ 18.30 - 28.97 Lakhs
Compare
View Offers
Toyota Belta (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
Engine Icon1462 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 10 Lakhs
View Details

Toyoda was seen taking the GR Yaris hot hatch and performing some stunning stunts. He took a road-going Gr Yaris to perform drifting and donuts. He was even seen waving at spectators with one hand while doing donuts, showing how much control he has over the high-performance machine.

The particular GR Yaris that Toyoda was driving was equipped with various rally-inspired parts and it was seen drifting around a set of cones. Toyoda has quite a lot of racing experience. He even competed at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring as well. It is because Toyoda the Japanese car brand has been so keen on motorsports and spawning out models like GR Yaris.

Akio Toyoda has been serving as the president of Toyota since mid-2009. Despite handling the helm of the auto manufacturer pretty well, he has come under fire in recent months by lobbying to delay the global automobile market’s transition to electric vehicles as he believes that hydrogen-powered cars should be the future, not pure electric vehicles.

In recent times, Toyoda has several times expressed his displeasure with the auto industry's shifting trend to pure electric vehicles. Instead, he advocated for using hybrid vehicles or hydrogen-electric vehicles, instead of using lithium-ion vehicles.

First Published Date: 14 Dec 2021, 18:51 PM IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS

Please provide your details to get Personalized Offers on

Choose city
+91 | Choose city
Choose city
Choose city

Want to get the best price for your existing car?

Powered by: Spinny Logo
By clicking "View Offers" you Agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy

Dear Name

Please verify your mobile number.

+91 | Choose city
Couldn't verify the OTP.
It's either expired or it's incorrect.