Rowan Atkinson showed up at Goodwood this week to support alternative fuels by driving a specially prepared Toyota GR Yaris H2. As Mr. Bean, Atkinson is both a car enthusiast and a staunch supporter of internal combustion engines.
For the Goodwood event, the Toyota GR Yaris H2 Concept was modified to run on hydrogen. Although it still uses the standard turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine, the engine management system has been adjusted to allow for hydrogen injection into the engine for internal combustion. This makes it different from fuel cell vehicles.
Atkinson, who already owns a regular GR Yaris, found the hydrogen-powered version to be “tremendous fun.” He commended Toyota and Formula One for their efforts in preserving the internal combustion engine by utilizing clean and alternative fuels. Toyota is even developing a GR H2 Le Mans prototype that will race on hydrogen fuel in 2026, and Formula One plans to switch to hybrid powertrains running sustainable fuels in the same timeframe.
Despite being an early adopter of electric car technology and having a degree in electrical and electronic engineering, Atkinson has become increasingly critical of electric cars. In an article for the Guardian, he expressed feeling “duped” and encouraged companies to explore alternative fuels like hydrogen to ensure the sustainability of internal combustion engines.
However, Atkinson still appreciates the idea of electric cars but believes that they are not the “environmental panacea” they are often portrayed as due to their heavy and costly lithium-ion batteries. In addition to the GR Yaris, his car collection includes impressive machines such as a McLaren F1, Lancia Delta Integrale HF, and an Acura NSX.
The Toyota GR Yaris was launched as a competitor to the Subaru WRX and Volkswagen GTI. Its stock 1.6-liter engine produces 257 horsepower, but it can be tuned to reach up to 741 horsepower while still using its original crankshaft, pistons, and rods.