Restricted to simply 500 models, the GRMN Yaris offered out in in the future.
Photograph courtesy of Gazoo Racing
Right here is yet one more gem from Japan that’s been stopped on the border. No, sadly, we is not going to be getting Toyota’s rally-honed GRMN Yaris, which by the way simply occurs to be Japan’s strongest 3-cylinder scorching hatch ever. It’s primarily based on the a number of award-winning GR Yaris, however in stead of 4 seats, it will get two, and incorporates a complete host of upgrades over the inventory GR mannequin.
Sure, Toyota has some odd names today to confer with its rising vary of sports activities vehicles, and the weirdest should be this one — “Gazoo Racing tuned by the Meister of Nurburgring,” or GRMN. That’s as a result of principally each automotive from its GR lineup, together with the GR Supra and the GR86 has been tuned on the famed 13-mile lengthy Nurburgring race observe in western Germany.
The GRMN Yaris is available in two specs – the Circuit Package deal and the Rally Package deal.
Photograph courtesy of Gazoo Racing
Launched on the Tokyo Auto Salon in January this yr, the restricted run of 500 GRMN Yaris fashions offered out in a day when it went on sale this month as some 12,300 keen consumers lodged their curiosity in securing a automotive via an internet buying system that selects consumers in a reservation lottery. Every fortunate purchaser must fork out the equal of $62,600, a large bounce from the GR Yaris’ $33,700.
Obtainable in two specs, Circuit Package deal and the Rally Package deal, the GRMN Yaris relies on the GR Yaris platform, and subsequently employs the identical turbocharged 3-cylinder 1.6-liter engine pumping out 268-hp/6500rpm. Whereas energy stays the identical because the GR Yaris, the GRMN model will get a lift in torque from 273 lb-ft to 288 lb-ft. The 6-speed handbook gearbox has additionally been bolstered and tuned from the GR model to ship faster, extra exact shifting.
By switching the roof and hood from metal to carbon fiber, engineers have saved some 42-lbs of weight. These weight financial savings, additional torque and sharper gear motion with smoother shifts enhance the GRMN Yaris’ 0-60mph acceleration instances to five.3 seconds, down from the GR Yaris’ 5.5 seconds.
The inside will get bespoke Recaro seats.
Photograph courtesy of Gazoo Racing
The Circuit bundle brings bespoke 18-in BBS wheels, adjustable Bilstein shocks, a carbon-fiber rear spoiler and aerodynamic physique equipment, whereas the Rally bundle employs a bespoke GR suspension improve, a protecting undertray and a roll bar. The primary upgrades are a stiffer physique, because of 546 new spot welds and 39 ft of additional structural adhesive, a 42-lb weight reduction (the rear seats make means for a stable cross-brace), a half inch improve in width for improved aerodynamics and a half inch drop in trip peak, which brings a decrease centre of gravity. The primary distinction between the Circuit and Rally specs are the suspension setups and the tires. In distinction to the Circuit’s Yokohama Advan rubber, the Rally spec shods gravel-friendly Dunlops.
The GRMN Yaris additionally receives a mechanical limited-slip differential and a brand new gearbox with close-ratio first via fourth gears to make environment friendly use of the engine’s energy band. Inside, it will get bespoke snugly becoming Recaro bucket seats with aspect airbags, aluminum pedals, a leather-based sure gear shifter, bespoke gauges and a steering wheel wrapped in alcantara to counter sweaty palms.
Whereas the precise GRMN Yaris is not going to be exported, Gazoo Racing did say that abroad GR Yaris homeowners in addition to these driving the GR Supra and GR86, can have entry to bespoke GRMN aero components and suspension upgrades together with Bilstein dampers by spring 2023.
