TOYOTA has released images of its new hot hatch Yaris, saying it will be revealed in the metal at the Geneva Motor Show in March.  

Based on the three-door Yaris body and powered by an engine "producing more than 210bhp (150kW)," it will forge a link between the wide-body Yaris WRC car about to make its competition debut at the Monte Carlo Rally this week, and the standard road-going model range.  

Toyota spokesman Steve Coughlan said there were no plans to introduce the high-performance Yaris in Australia, but that the brand would "love to have a hot hatch in our local line-up at some future point."

If it did arrive here, a Yaris hot hatch would be a suitable foil for the Ford Fiesta ST, VW Polo GTI, Renault Clio RS200 and Peugeot 208 GTi.

The current Yaris range's highest output motor is the 1.5-litre four-cylinder good for just 80kW and 141Nm. A high performance version could certainly give the little Yaris some much needed kudos.