Toyota Yaris Gazoo Racing (GR)

Toyota GR Yaris

Toyota Yaris GR at Arkhangelskoye Estate (Moscow Region, Russia)

The Toyota GR Yaris is a compact sports car that Toyota has been producing since 2020 in collaboration with its Gazoo Racing (GR) division. It is a three-door hatchback built to World Rally Championship (WRC) homologation standards. The GR Yaris is equipped with all-wheel drive and other significant modifications that distinguish it from the five-door Yaris XP210 series. The rear of the car is based on the larger Corolla E210 series.

Design

Gazoo Racing worked with the rally team on prototypes, significantly modifying the production Yaris. These cars were then adapted for the average buyer.

One of the key changes was the decision to make the three-door hatchback all-wheel drive, with an increased rear track and double-wishbone suspension to handle the powerful torque. The GR Yaris is built on a combination of the front end of the Yaris GA-B architecture and the rear end of the GA-C platform used in the Corolla. To reduce weight, aluminium is used for the bonnet, boot lid and door panels, and carbon fibre reinforced plastic is used for the roof, which is made using sheet compound moulding.

The production version is equipped with a Gazoo Racing-developed 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged G16E-GTS engine with 257-268 HP and 360-370 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed V16 manual transmission (iMT) and a GR-Four permanent all-wheel drive system. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 5.2–5.5 seconds, and the top speed is electronically limited to 230 km/h.

GR Yaris RS

Toyota has released a basic front-wheel drive version of the GR Yaris RS for the Japanese market. Unlike the all-wheel drive models, it does not have the ‘GR-Four’ emblem. However, externally, the RS is almost identical to the standard RZ trim.

Under the bonnet of the GR Yaris RS is the more common Dynamic Force engine — a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated M15A-FKS three-cylinder with 88 kW (118 HP). It is paired with a K120 Direct Shift CVT, which has one physical first gear and nine virtual gears, for a total of ten. The braking system in the RS is the same as in the regular Yaris models. The double wishbone rear suspension has been retained.

The car weighs 1130 kg, which is 150 kg less than the RZ and the international version of the GR Yaris. In April 2022, a lighter ‘Light Package’ version weighing 1110 kg was released. Its production ceased with the release of the updated RC model in January 2024.