Toyota GR Yaris
| Toyota GR Yaris (XP210) | |
|---|---|
 Toyota GR Yaris (GXPA16, Germany) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Production | September 2020 – present |
| Assembly | Japan: Toyota, Aichi (Motomachi plant)[1][2] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Hot hatch/Sport compact (B) |
| Body style | 3-door hatchback |
| Layout |
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| Platform | TNGA: GA-B (front)/GA-C (rear) |
| Related | Toyota Yaris (XP210) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Power output |
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| Transmission |
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| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,560 mm (100.8 in) |
| Length | 3,995 mm (157.3 in) |
| Width | 1,805 mm (71.1 in) |
| Height | 1,455 mm (57.3 in) |
| Kerb weight | 1,130–1,280 kg (2,491–2,822 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor |
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The Toyota GR Yaris (Japanese: トヨタ・GRヤリス, Toyota Jīāru Yarisu) is a performance-oriented variant of the XP210 series Yaris supermini/subcompact hatchback, in a segment commonly called the hot hatch. The vehicle is manufactured by Toyota with assistance from the company's Gazoo Racing (GR) division.
Overview[]
When the XP210 Yaris hatchback was developed, Toyota decided to only offer it in a five-door bodywork, as three-door hatchbacks had been diminishing in popularity. While the decision made financial sense, it posed a problem for Toyota's World Rally Championship (WRC) team, which felt only a three-door hatch was suitable for competition.[3]
Despite the expense of developing a limited-production performance model, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda felt strongly that it was important for the company to still be represented at the WRC, so he authorised the development of the GR Yaris. Toyoda would later say that he saw the GR Yaris as a passion project of his, stemming from a desire for the automaker to develop and build a sports car purely of its own design, unlike the 86 (jointly developed with and built by Subaru) or the GR Supra (jointly developed with BMW and built by Magna Steyr).[3][4]
To meet the WRC's homologation rules Toyota would need to produce at least 25,000 units of the GR Yaris in a continuous 12-month period. Rally cars homologated for the WRC are required to same basic bodyshell as a production car, so the Gazoo Racing WRT team, led by team principal and 4-time WRC champion Tommi Mäkinen, was heavily involved in the design. The challenge was to build a car that was capable of being equipped to race at WRC events, but also suitable for daily driving.[4]
Working together with the rally team, the Gazoo Racing division built prototypes and development mules by heavily modifying production Yaris vehicles that were then reverse-engineered into a car that would work for the average customer. Both Akio Toyoda and Tommi Mäkinen spent time test driving these development mules and pre-production cars in the snow, on gravel, and on the street.[5][6]
One of the major changes came when the team decided they wanted the three-door hatchback to have four-wheel drive, a wider rear track, and a double wishbone suspension layout to handle significantly increased torque.[3] The design changes required that the GR Yaris be built on a combination between the front end of the standard Yaris' GA-B architecture with the rear of the GA-C platform used by the Corolla, among other Toyota products.[7] To save weight, the GR Yaris would also uses aluminium for the front bonnet (hood), boot (trunk) lid, and door panels. It also uses carbon fibre-reinforced plastic for its roof panel which was formed using the sheet molding compound method.[1] Ultimately, chief engineer Naohiko Saito said he was able to accommodate 90 percent of design requests made by Mäkinen and the WRC team.[3]
The production car is powered by a Gazoo Racing-built, turbocharged and direct/port-injected 1.6-litre G16E-GTS three-cylinder engine that produces 192–200 kW (257–268 hp; 261–272 PS) and 360–370 N⋅m (266–273 lb⋅ft) of torque, varying due to emissions regulations in certain markets. The engine is mated to a 6-speed V16-series intelligent manual transmission ("iMT") and "GR-Four" permanent four-wheel drive system. It has a claimed 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) acceleration in 5.2–5.5 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph).
The GR Yaris was first unveiled at the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon.[8][9] The vehicle went into production in September 2020 on a special assembly line in the Motomachi plant, that Toyota calls the "GR Factory" and is staffed by master craftsman team members.[5] It is currently sold in Japan, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa,[10] Thailand, Malaysia,[11] Indonesia,[12] the Philippines,[13] Mexico,[14] Argentina, and Taiwan. On 30 July 2021, Toyota announced that it will extend production of the GR Yaris for two years due to strong demand for the vehicle.[15]
GR Yaris (GXPA16, Germany)
GR Yaris RZ interior (Japan)
G16E-GTS engine in the GR Yaris
Drivetrain of GR Yaris 1.6 models
GR Yaris RS[]
Exclusive for the Japanese market, Toyota offers an entry-level, front-wheel drive GR Yaris RS. As it lacks the four-wheel drive system, the "GR-Four" emblem is eliminated, but otherwise the exterior bodywork of the RS is identical to the standard RZ trim level. Under the bonnet, the GR-built engine is replaced with a more regular Dynamic Force engine, the three-cylinder, naturally-aspirated, 1.5-litre, 88 kW (118 hp; 120 PS) M15A-FKS, which is mated to the K120 "Direct Shift" continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Direct Shift CVT includes a physical first gear (known as a "launch gear") and nine additional simulated gears, for a total of ten. The RS also uses the braking system found in the regular Yaris models.[16][17] However, the rear double wishbone suspension system is retained. Weighing 1,130 kg (2,491 lb), it is 150 kg (331 lb) lighter than the RZ trim and the international GR Yaris model, which weighs 1,280 kg (2,822 lb).
GR Yaris RS (MXPA12, Japan)
GR Yaris RS (MXPA12, Japan), note the lack of "GR-Four" badging
Awards[]
The GR Yaris has been awarded as the 2021 UK Car of the Year.[18][19]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Toyota Premieres GR Yaris" (Press release). Toyota. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ Roberts, Graeme (2 September 2020). "Toyota starts GR Yaris output in Japan". just-auto. UK. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Perkins, Chris (16 January 2020). "Here's How the 2021 Toyota GR Yaris Homologation Special Came to Life". Road & Track. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Westbrook, Justin T. (1 October 2020). "Toyota Boss Akio Toyoda Led Development Of The Hot 2020 Toyota Yaris GR From The Driver's Seat". Jalopnik. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Petrány, Máté (30 September 2020). "This Video Shows How Toyota's CEO Drove Every Mule of The GR Yaris". The Drive. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ GR YARIS How it started (Video). Toyota Gazoo Racing. 30 September 2020.
- ^ "6 Things I Learned About The AWD Toyota GR Yaris". Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "New Toyota GR Yaris : Forged in the heat of World Rally competition" (Press release). Europe: Toyota. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "GR Yaris". Europe: Toyota. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ Raymond, Charlen (1 December 2020). "Turning up the wick - Toyota to introduce GR Yaris locally in mid-2021". Wheels 24. South Africa. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ Lee, Jonathan (17 December 2020). "Toyota GR Yaris launched in Malaysia – WRC special with 261 PS 1.6L turbo, AWD, 6-speed manual, RM299k". paultan.org. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Andika, M Luthfi (23 March 2021). "GR Yaris Dibanderol Rp 800 Jutaan di Indonesia, Sudah Bisa Dipesan!". Detik Oto (in Indonesian). Indonesia. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ Altoveros, Jose (29 March 2021). "It's official: Toyota GR Yaris is coming to the Philippines". autoindustriya.com. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Tong, Matthew H. (23 April 2021). "2021 Toyota GR Yaris in Mexico - sold out in 24 hours!". paultan.org. Malaysia. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ Trujillo, Estefanía (30 July 2021). "Toyota extiende la producción de GR Yaris y eso podría significar más unidades para México" [Toyota extends GR Yaris production and that could mean more units for Mexico]. Motor Pasion (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Toyota Announces its Line-up for the New GR Yaris in Japan" (Press release). Toyota. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ Padeanu, Adrian (2 June 2020). "Toyota GR Yaris Base Version In Japan Has Only 118 HP And A CVT". Motor1. US. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ Gnaticov, Cristian (8 March 2021). "Toyota GR Yaris Beats Defender, Puma And ID.3 For 2021 UK Car Of The Year Title". Carscoops. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ Hudson, Paul (8 March 2021). "More success for Toyota as GR Yaris wins the UK Car of the Year title". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
External links[]
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- Toyota vehicles
- Cars introduced in 2020
- Subcompact cars
- Hot hatches
- All-wheel-drive vehicles
- Front-wheel-drive vehicles
- Vehicles with CVT transmission