Toyota GR Yaris

The Toyota GR Yaris (トヨタ・GRヤリス) is a sport compact car manufactured since 2020 by Toyota with assistance from the company's Gazoo Racing (GR) division. It is a three-door hatchback which was designed to meet World Rally Championship (WRC) homologation rules. The GR Yaris is available with four-wheel drive alongside other significant modifications which differentiate it from the five-door XP210-series Yaris, with the rear of the car being based upon the larger E210-series Corolla.

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 WRC team, which felt only a three-door hatch was suitable for competition.

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).

Design
The GR Yaris was unveiled at the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon, and is sold in Japan, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Mexico, Argentina and Taiwan.

The GR Yaris has not been offered in the United States or Canada; analysts attribute this to its low probable sales volume, the discontinuation of the standard Yaris in these markets, and a lack of commonality with the most recent Yaris sold in the region, which was a rebadged and slightly restyled Mazda2. Both regions received the larger, five-door GR Corolla in 2022 for the 2023 model year instead.

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 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. However, the rear double wishbone suspension system is retained. Weighing 1130 kg, it is 150 kg lighter than the RZ trim and the international GR Yaris model, which weighs 1280 kg.

In April 2022, the "Light Package" variant went on sale, which further reduced weight to 1110 kg.

2024 facelift
On 12 January 2024 at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the car received a facelift and for the first time Toyota included an 8-speed automatic option. The 1.6-litre G16E-GTS three-cylinder is upgraded to produce 224 kW and 295 lbft of torque for the Japanese market model, on par with the GR Corolla. Engine upgrades also include "strengthened" valvetrain, a new undisclosed exhaust valve material, an increase in direct injection pressure, a new intake air pressure sensor, and redesigned lightweight pistons. The body rigidity and suspension are improved to support the power increase. The dashboard was reworked with a more driver-centric design, differentiating it from the standard Yaris.

The GR Yaris facelift is set to commence production for the Australian market in late 2024 with showroom deliveries arriving in early 2025.

GRMN Yaris (2022)
The GRMN Yaris ("GRMN" for Gazoo Racing, tuned by the Meister of the Nürburgring) is a limited-production (500 units) variant based on the GR Yaris RZ with:
 * Increased engine torque output by 20 Nm to 390 Nm, while the horsepower figure remain unchanged.
 * Retuned close-ratio gear transmission and a low final gear set. The SNCM material was used and shot processing was added to first, third, fourth, fifth and final gears, which is claimed to significantly improving shock torque and fatigue strength.
 * Reinforced metal clutch on the dual-mass flywheel.
 * Usage of twill weave CFRP for the bonnet and roof and removal of rear passenger seats, which reduced the weight by approximately 20 kg.
 * Increased number of spot welds by 545 and enhanced body rigidity by applying additional 12 m of structural adhesive.

Apart from the regular GRMN Yaris, "Circuit Package" and "Rally Package" options were also available. The Circuit Package includes BBS GRMN bespoke 18-inch wheels, 18-inch brakes, Bilstein shock absorbers with adjustable damping force, carbon (twill weave CFRP) rear spoiler, side skirt and lip spoiler, while the Rally Package includes GR shock absorbers and short stabilizer link set, GR under guard set and GR roll bar (with side bar). Rally Package parts could be chosen separately.

The vehicle was unveiled at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon. Sales will begin in the first quarter of 2022, with pre-order beginning on 14 January 2022.

GR Yaris Hydrogen
The GR Yaris Hydrogen is a GR Yaris with a modified G16E-GTS engine to run with hydrogen fuel.

Motorsport
The GR Yaris served as the basis for the GR Yaris Rally1 car that made its debut in 2022 World Rally Championship season. It will also make its Rally2 debut in 2024.

Awards
In January 2021, the GR Yaris was named Hot Hatch of the Year by What Car? magazine. What Car? awarded the GR Yaris five stars out of five in its review of the car.

The GR Yaris was awarded the 2021 UK Car of the Year, as well as winning the Best Performance award.

Production
The GR Yaris went into production in September 2020 on a dedicated assembly line in the Motomachi plant, that Toyota calls the "GR Factory" and is staffed by master craftsman team members.

On 30 July 2021, the production of GR Yaris would be extended for two years due to strong demand for the vehicle.