Toyota reveals 257bhp GR Yaris
● Homologation special revealed ● 4WD, 257bhp, manual gearbox
TOYOTA has officially revealed the GR Yaris at the Tokyo Auto Salon. It’s the first homologation special produced for a generation, picking up where nineties rally legends such as the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution left off.
It’s been created to give Toyota a competitive advantage in the World Rally Championship, where it’s locked in battle with Korean rival Hyundai, by helping development of the next Yaris WRC. As such, the hot hatch has been developed collaboratively by Toyota Gazoo Racing and Tommi Mäkinen Racing, the Finnish outfit responsible for Toyota’s WRC campaign.
The GR Yaris comes with a range of design features that have racing at their core, such as a bespoke 257bhp three-cylinder turbocharged engine, a three-door bodyshell and a unique chassis and suspension set-up.
As well as 257bhp, the 1.6-litre threecylinder turbo develops 360Nm of torque – although Japanese buyers get an even more potent version that produces 268bhp and 370Nm of torque. For UK models, Toyota says that the GR Yaris is capable of 0–62mph in “less than 5.5 seconds” and can hit an electronically limited top speed of 143mph.
Power is sent through a six-speed-manual gearbox to Toyota’s “GR Four” adaptive allwheel-drive system. This features limitedslip differentials front and rear, and a unique coupling which automatically manages the torque split between the axles.
The driver can manually adjust the GR Yaris’s torque split using a switch in the cabin. In Normal mode, the GR Yaris sends 60 per cent of the engine’s power to the front wheels and 40 per cent to the rear. Sport mode shifts this ratio to 30:70, while Track mode locks the two axles in a 50:50 split for improved grip and handling. This running gear is fitted to a bespoke three-door body, because this offers greater chassis rigidity, a lighter kerbweight and better scope for aerodynamic aids when compared with the standard five-door production Yaris.
Aluminium is used for the bonnet, bootlid and door panels, while the roofline has been lowered by 95mm and is now made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic. The front and rear tracks are also wider, performance brakes with four-piston calipers have been added, and the GR Yaris uses a bespoke double wishbone suspension set-up.
There’s no official word on cost, but insiders suggest that Toyota’s pricing will be guided by the need to actually sell the car – and that as a hot hatch-loving territory, the UK will be at the forefront of the launch. Expect a figure in the region of £35,000-£40,000 when the car reaches showrooms before the end of 2020.
“The GR Yaris comes with a range of design features that have racing at their core”