This Tiny Toyota Prototype Has A Yaris Face And Only One Seat

The Aygo X was the last model in Toyota’s European lineup without a hybrid option. That’s about to change as the facelifted version of the entry-level hatchback-crossover is nearly ready for launch. The automaker has offered a behind-the-scenes look at its development, and the process was anything but straightforward.

A recently uploaded Toyota Europe video shows an early prototype with some unusual quirks. The camouflaged front end borrows its headlights, grille, and bumper intakes directly from the Yaris subcompact hatch. The rest of the bodywork carries over from the Aygo X, complete with plastic arch cladding and oversized wheels for that crossover stance.

A Frankenstein Test Mule

Inside, the prototype was stripped to a single seat, and its dashboard came straight from the Yaris as well. Why? Because Toyota was testing the first self-charging hybrid powertrain ever fitted to an A-segment car. All rivals in this category are still gasoline, mild-hybrid, or fully electric.

More: Toyota’s GR Yaris Just Got Louder With Aero Performance Package

For production, the facelifted Aygo X swaps the previous model’s 1.0-liter engine for a new hybrid system producing 114 hp (85 kW / 116 PS). The setup combines a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter engine with a single electric motor and battery pack, the same hardware found in the Yaris and Yaris Cross. Fitting it into the smaller Aygo, though, meant heavy modifications to both the design and the TNGA-B platform.

Toyota Europe / YouTube

Packaging Challenges

The front end had to be fully reworked, adding an extra 76 mm (3 inches) to the front overhang and increasing the total length to 3,776 mm (148.7 inches). While the final product has the new nose with the aggressively styled headlights and the massive bumper intake, engineers didn’t have access to these bits from the start. This is why they borrowed the Yaris ‘s front end, with the tight packaging requiring the use of its dashboard as well.

More: How Toyota Plans To Keep The GR Celica And Supra From Overlapping

Battery placement was another headache. Engineers initially had to remove the passenger seats to make room. Eventually, they managed to tuck the battery modules under the rear seats and move the auxiliary battery beneath the cargo floor, keeping the 231-liter (8.2 cu ft) boot intact.

The Cost Of Electrification

According to R&D Project and Product Manager for the Aygo X Cesar Romero, some customers had already requested a hybrid since the model launched in 2022. Compliance with upcoming Euro 7 regulations sealed the deal.

The only missing piece of the puzzle is the pricing of the hybrid Aygo X, which for now remains under wraps. Nevertheless, as a point of reference, the outgoing model starts from £16,845-21,195 ($22,900-28,800) in the UK and €18,090-25,790 ($21,300-30,300) in Germany.

Holding The Line In The A-Segment

This raises the question of how much more buyers will have to spend on the facelifted hybrid, especially in the newly added GR Sport trim. What’s certain is that the entry-level Aygo X will need to stay below the larger Yaris Hybrid, which starts at £22,900 in the UK and €25,500 ($30,000) in Germany.

According to Romero, the Aygo X is the only member of the Toyota lineup that is designed, produced. and sold exclusively in Europe. Unlike other automakers including Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, VW, Skoda, and Seat that have discontinued their ICE-powered offerings in the A-Segment, Toyota insists it’s here to stay.

That leaves the Aygo X facing a smaller field of competitors, including the Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, and Suzuki Ignis, along with mild-hybrid options like the Fiat 500 and Pandina. It will also go up against a new wave of city EVs such as the Leapmotor T03, Dacia Spring, and upcoming models like the Renault Twingo and VW ID. Every1.