Car pictures of the week
In this week’s car pictures from issue 282, we looks at the highlights from our rally special triple test
Toyota’s new GR Yaris is the first true homologation special we’ve seen in quite some time, but how does it stack up against two rally-inspired legends of the past? We take a look at the highlights from our test from the latest issue. To read the full story, make sure you pick up your copy of issue 282 in stores or online.
The Sport Quattro is undoubtedly one of Audi's most iconic models to date, with the road-going car’s clear resemblance to the championship-winning rally car no doubt helping its cause. A 2.1-litre turbocharged five-cylinder is what lies at its heart, producing a healthy 306bhp and 258lb ft of torque – on a par with a Porsche 911 Turbo of the same era.
> TOM’S Racing Toyota GR Yaris revealed – homologation special gains focus
Carbon Kevlar body panels and that extreme reduction in wheelbase are strong nods to its origins, but with less of a focus on weight savings than you’d expect, could it possibly live up to its iconic reputation?
In the late ‘90s however, another rally dynasty was being created, this time from a Japanese manufacturer. Built to celebrate Subaru’s 1997 World Rally Championship title, the legendary Impreza 22B isn’t a homologation special technically speaking, but we’re not sure that’s a bad thing. That’s because the 22B still featured a number of bespoke components, with its 2.2-litre EJ22 flat-four featuring forged pistons alongside a number of other tweaks. Although 276bhp was the factory quoted output, many believe it produces in excess of 300bhp to put it directly in line with the Audi.
There were also the iconic set of gold BBS wheels (although not fitted to our example), so too an adjustable centre differential, twin-plate clutch, uprated brakes and inverted Bilstein dampers – hence the B in the name. Granted, they’re limited in numbers, but with a car such as the GR Yaris on sale, can it ever be worth today’s sky-high asking prices?
The GR Yaris comes from a similar source to the Audi, designed specifically to excel in the world rally championship, and although last-minute rule changes means we’ll never see its full realition in the WRC, it still left us with a modern day homologation special to enjoy on the road. As such, it sports an equally purposeful stance with swollen arches, a lowered roofline and gaping grilles making its intentions clear. Output and weight are also comparable at 257bhp and 1280kg respectively, but have modern day regulations taken away what has always made homologation specials so, well, special?
To find out how, make sure to pick up your copy of issue 282 in stores or online now. Click here to have the next issue delivered straight to your door before it hits shelves.
> evo magazine latest issue – 282 on sale now
Car pictures of the week: archive
Below are some of our favourite images from previous editions of evo car pictures of the week. Click on the pictures for the full galleries.
Gallery 1
Click below to see all the images of our first car pictures of the week gallery, here featuring the indomitable Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, mk1 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 and the stunning Porsche 911 re-imagined by Singer.
Gallery 2
Here we dig further back into the evo archives where we pull out some iconic images of the Ford GT slightly out of context in the European Alps, a TVR Sagaris in central London, the Audi RS2 as well as one of our most iconic twin tests between the Ferrari 599 GTO and Lexus LF-A.
Gallery 3
The previous-generation Bentley Continental GT seemed to get better with age, a notion mirrored by the Jaguar E-type when in modern ‘lightweight’ form. Both of these British icons, as well as the Aston Martin Vantage GT12 feature in gallery three.
Gallery 4
Fans might have cried fowl when Ferrari decided to turbocharge the Ferrari 488, but it’s not like Ferrari don’t have a history with turbocharged V8 engines. Here the 488 co-stars alongside the stunning F40, while elsewhere in this gallery we take a Porsche Cayman GTS to Japan for a stunning mountain blast.
Gallery 5
Italian twelve-cylinder supercars seem to be the main agenda in the fourth evo car pictures of the week gallery, here featuring four V12 Lambos and the stunning 599 SA Aperta limited edition alongside its 550 Barchetta predecessor.
Gallery 6
GT3s and GT-Rs are just the beginning for gallery number six, with the Noble M600, Aston Martin One-77 and a couple of McLaren flagships filling out our most amazing gallery yet.
Gallery 7
A gallery of new and old, here the McLaren 720S cemented its place as a truly great supercar alongside a daring night shoot with an Audi R8 LMX, pitch a Nissan GT-R and Audi Quattro against each other on Welsh mountain roads and drive the original 'Hakosuka' GT-R.
Gallery 8
Ford's RS200 in a moody dark garage is just one of many amazing shoots in our 8th gallery, click on the image for the full gallery
Gallery 9
Click on the image below for our ninth car pictures of the week gallery, including this hardcore lot!
Gallery 10
Our tenth gallery turned it up another notch, including the wettest shoot in history (apparently).
Gallery 11
The best hardcore Ferrari supercars and more feature in our 11th car pictures of the week gallery.
