The new Toyota GR Yaris will storm onto the local market as a single high specification model, with an introductory price of $39,950 – limited to the first 1,000 launch vehicles sold. Online and in-dealer reservations started on the 23 September 2020, with the car arriving in November 2020. A limited edition model designed for circuit racing is due next year, called the GR Yaris Rallye.
There were 560 orders taken on the first day, more than half of the 1,000 launch vehicles offered, with the most popular colour being white. One of the first to place a $1,000 deposit was Australian rally champion Harry Bates, who has teamed with his father and four-time national rally champion Neal and rallying teammate and brother Lewis to buy a white GR Yaris.
“I was lucky enough to be one of the first Australians to experience the GR Yaris when pre-production prototype models were tested in Portugal last year,” he said.
“The second I drove it, I wanted one. I can’t wait to pick mine up, drive it around – and get it on the track. Dad won three of his four Australian championships driving a Celica GT-FOUR. I missed out on that era, so this is my chance to have a rally car for the road – brand new!”
First-day orders by state and territory:
| NSW | 226 |
| QLD | 124 |
| VIC | 90 |
| WA | 53 |
| SA | 39 |
| ACT | 14 |
| NT | 9 |
| TAS | 5 |
| TOTAL | 560 |
Toyota Australia’s Vice President Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley states, “It was born from our success in the heat of motorsport – developed by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in collaboration with Tommi Mäkinen Racing, our title-winning World Rally Championship (WRC) team.”
“This partnership has brought motorsport design and technology directly to GR Yaris, which is our first homologation model for WRC competition since the end of production of the Celica GT-Four in 1999.”
“GR Yaris will compete head-to-head against pure performance cars such as the Honda Civic Type R, VW Golf R and Renault Megane RS with price-tags of $50,000 or higher.”
Every aspect of the GR Yaris has a performance focus: an all-new platform and engine, new suspension, lightweight construction, aerodynamic styling and a new GR-Four permanent all-wheel-drive system. A unique three-door body – available in white, red or black exterior paint – is made from lightweight materials including carbon-fibre polymer for the roof and aluminium for the bonnet, doors and tailgate, keeping weight to just 1280kg. There’s a new multi-link rear suspension system, a wider track and accommodation of the GR-Four all-wheel drive system.
Power is delivered by a new compact and lightweight 200kW, 370Nm 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine that features a single-scroll ball-bearing turbo. Motorsport technologies designed for maximum performance include multi-oil jet piston cooling, large-diameter exhaust valves and a part-machined intake port. The DOHC 12-valve turbocharged engine is mated to an intelligent six-speed manual gearbox, engineered to accommodate high torque levels. The car has a power-to-weight ratio of 156kW per tonne and achieves a 0-100km/h time of 5.2 seconds.
Performance brakes are 356mm x 28mm ventilated front discs with four-pot callipers and 297mm x 18mm ventilated rear discs with two-pot callipers. The system has been engineered to cope with rigorous demands of high-speed track driving.
Standard equipment includes a comprehensive Toyota Safety Sense package, auto air-conditioning, keyless smart entry and start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 8-speaker JBL sound system. GR Yaris is also fitted with a rear spoiler, sports seats with suede and leather accents, aluminium pedals and dual exhaust tips.
Next year’s GR Yaris Rally has performance upgrades including circuit-tuned suspension, Torsen limited-slip differentials on the front and rear axles, 18-inch BBS forged alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres and red brake callipers. The GR Yaris Rallye will be limited to approximately 250 examples with pricing to be announced closer to its introduction.
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