This is Toyota’s new GR Yaris.

Powered by a new 1.6-litre, 200kW/360Nm three-cylinder turbocharged engine, the GR Yaris was created with input from Toyota Gazoo Racing and Tommi Makinen Racing, Toyota’s partner in the WRC.

Toyota says that as well as serving as the official homologation model for development of the next Yaris WRC car, GR Yaris also has all the attributes required for owners looking to compete successfully in local rally competitions.

The GR Yaris, scheduled for an Australian arrival late this year, is positioned at the top of the new-generation Yaris range that will launch locally within five months. It has a lower, wider, three-door body, 18-inch wheels, extended wheel arches, an imposing front air intake, specially designed brakes with red callipers, and twin exhaust tips.

“The GR Yaris is an exciting well-rounded vehicle that exemplifies Toyota’s commitment to producing ever-better cars, offering compelling performance that will appeal to a broad range of enthusiasts,” said Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia Vice President Sales and Marketing. “It is a rally car for the road that pushes vehicle performance to the limit and will enhance the image of the Toyota and Yaris brands.”

Toyota says the WRC-skilled team of designers and engineers at Tommi Makinen Racing focused on perfecting the aerodynamics, weight distribution and light weight of the new car – the three qualities essential to achieving the best performance and drivability.

The GR Yaris engine is an all-new, three-cylinder turbocharged unit that includes multi-oil jet piston cooling, large-diameter exhaust valves and a part-machined intake port. The DOHC 12-valve engine features a single-scroll ball-bearing turbo and is matched to a six-speed manual transmission, engineered to accommodate high torque levels.

The body shell is constructed predominantly from light-weight materials, including a new carbon-fibre polymer for the roof. Aluminium is used for the bonnet, doors and tailgate. As a result, the GR Yaris has a kerb weight of 1,280kg and a power-to-weight ratio of 156kW per tonne. That helps deliver 0-100 km/h acceleration in less than 5.5 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 230 km/h.

GR Yaris performance is supported by a new GR-FOUR AWD system. The distribution of torque between the front and rear axles is governed by a high-response coupling.

The system uses slightly different gear ratios for the front and rear axles and allows for a theoretical range of front/rear torque balance from 100:0 (full front-wheel drive) to 0:100 (full rear-wheel drive). Toyota says this flexibility gives a performance advantage over AWD on-demand systems that use twin-coupling or permanent AWD systems with a centre differential.

The driver can adjust the system’s performance to suit their preference or the driving situation using an AWD mode dial switch. In normal mode, the base front/rear torque distribution is 60:40; in Sport mode the balance shifts to the rear, with 30:70 distribution; and in Track mode the base setting is 50:50. In each mode, the torque balance will automatically adjust in response to the driver’s inputs, vehicle behaviour and road or track conditions.

Toyota says that a lower roofline improves the car’s ability to cut through the air, while positioning the new 1.6 turbo engine further back towards the centre of the car and locating the battery in the boot helps produce a better chassis balance for improved handling, stability and responsiveness.

Source: Motor Trader E-Magazine (Feb 2020)

10 Feb 2020