Toyota Australia will offer a driveaway price of $39,950 for the first thousand units of the 200kW GR Yaris which will be available for online and in-dealer pre-sale reservations on September 23.
A limited edition model designed for circuit racing is due in 2021.
Customers of the 200kW GR Yaris are set to reap a substantial bottom-line benefit when the car arrives in November.
Toyota Australia’s sales and marketing vice-president Sean Hanley says the one-off introductory price for the first 1,000 vehicles will accelerate the acceptance of GR Yaris on Australian roads.
He says the Yaris GR would otherwise carry a recommended retail price of $49,500.
Hanley says the 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.
“At the same time, it will have a significant performance advantage over conventional hot hatches, while competing against them on price,” he says.
Hanley says the introduction of a limited-edition GR Yaris Rallye in the first half of next year with upgrades that make it a more focused package designed for circuit racing.
“The GR Yaris is the first all-Toyota sports car developed in more than 20 years – the car our global president Akio Toyoda dreamed of making,” Hanley says.
“It was 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,” Hanley says.
Hanley says the GR Yaris – as a high-performance thoroughbred with 200kW on tap, a power-to-weight ratio of 156kW per tonne and 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.2 seconds – is a class above hot hatches in the light and small-car segments.
GR Yaris pre-sales through Toyota dealers – including online pre-orders from myToyota members – start at noon AEST on Wednesday, 23 September.
The first 50 myToyota members who pre-order online will be eligible to save 20c per litre off Caltex fuel for 12 months after taking delivery of their GR Yaris.
Hanley says next year’s GR Yaris Rallye promises an even richer experience for enthusiasts who want to take their cars to the track.
Its performance upgrades include 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.
The GR Yaris will be the second Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR) model available in the Australian market, joining the GR Supra which was launched last year.
Every aspect 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.
The new, dedicated platform combines the front end of Toyota’s GA-B platform – which debuted in this year’s all-new Yaris – with the rear of the GA-C platform used in Corolla.
This allows for 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 200kW, 370Nm 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine that features a single-scroll ball-bearing turbo. The DOHC 12-valve engine is mated to an intelligent six-speed manual gearbox engineered to accommodate high torque levels.
Performance brakes are 356mm x 28mm ventilated front discs with four-pot callipers and 297mm x 18mm ventilated rear discs with two-pot callipers.
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.
Join the conversation