Rally-bred Toyota GR Yaris to be offered in PH soon?

The 257 horsepower, rally-bred Toyota GR Yaris hatchback appears headed here soon, as Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) recently released a teaser video about it.

In TMP's official Facebook page, a video was posted in which the GR Yaris can be seen driving through and sliding about sandy terrain, before the words "COMING SOON TO PHILIPPINE SOIL" were flashed. No other details about the car's arrival were posted.

The GR Yaris bears the name of Toyota's racing division, Gazoo Racing, and will be the third GR-badged vehicle here following the GR Supra and the recently launched Vios GR-S.

The GR Yaris is fitted with four-wheel drive and technologies used in the same model that has been competing in the World Rally Championship (WRC).

The GR Yaris combines all the "technologies, knowledge, and experience” GR has picked up and learned from WRC,.

Other facts that make the GR Yaris exciting is the aforementioned 257hp. That comes from a 1.6-liter turbocharged mill that also creates a torque output of 360Nm. With these numbers, the manufacturers have claimed that this three cylinder is the most powerful of its kind in the world.

The engine is then paired to a six-speed manual, or an automatic in some markets. Many enthusiasts will go for three pedals, but whichever transmission will arrive in the country, the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform will underpin the GR.

The TNGA combines the front end of Toyota’s GA-B platform first seen in the all-new Yaris model in 2020, with the rear of the GA-C platform, as used on the Corolla.

Toyota said that this combination has made a new suspension design that accommodates the GR-Four all-wheel drive (AWD) system, while keeping the car’s stability and handling excellent.

The GR-Four system can be adjusted according to the driver’s mood,
or terrain conditions via a 4WD mode dial switch.

When switched to Normal mode, the GR-Four distributes the torque to the front and rear wheels with a 60:40 ratio, while a 30:70 split is available in Sport, which could allow rally-style skids and slides.

The Track mode setting balances the torque at 50:50 for competitive driving. “In each mode, the torque balance will automatically adjust in response to the driver’s inputs, vehicle behavior and road or track conditions,” Toyota said.

The GR Yaris is truly a pocket rocket at just 3,995mm long, 1,805mm wide, and 1,460mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,558mm.

Other rally-inspired tech in the GR Yaris include a performance braking system and suspension, and 18-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in sporty tires.

In its home country Japan, this car costs JPY 3.96 million (P1.8 million). Many can only hope the local pricing would not be too far off.

Photos from Toyota

Also read

2020 Toyota Yaris: Pros and Cons

Toyota GR Supra: Same price, other options