According to motoring.com.au, RAV4 Chief Engineer, Yoshikazu Saeki, confirmed that mentions of a hot model had been made, but that the final decision rests with Gazoo Racing and not with him.

“We have talked [with Gazoo Racing], but any kind of final determination — even if it is a potential viable business proposition — I have no idea what they took out of it. GR right now is its own separate company and the reality of that is it’s something out of my range,” Saeki told the online publication.

He also remarked that the RAV4, which has been confirmed for South Africa in the first quarter of next year, has been developed for three surfaces; mainstream on-road, sports on-road and off-road, and that it would be interesting to see which one GR focuses on if production is approved.

“Do you want to go sporty or do you want to go off-road? They would ask me stuff like that. But in the end, it’s GR that’s going to take that back and say, ‘this is going to be doing, this is the business potential that comes out of it. No matter how much I say, what I recommend, if it’s not good as a business proposal GR will say they can’t do that,” Saeki continued.

Down Under, the RAV4 will be offered in a choice of three petrol engines; a 2.0-litre that produces 127kW/203Nm, a 2.5-litre making 152kW/243Nm and a hybrid that combines the latter mill with an electric motor for an output of 155kW/221Nm. Standard on the former engine is a six-speed manual gearbox with a CVT optional, while the latter is paired solely to a new eight-speed torque converter automatic. An e-CVT is reserved for the hybrid.

With the exception of the hybrid, local RAV4 offerings will mirror that of the Aussie version, although final price and spec will only be revealed in 2019.