The new 2020 Toyota GR Yaris performance hatch has been revealed ahead of a local arrival later this year.
Toyota says the rally-inspired GR Yaris will offer motorsport technology and design born from the company’s experience in the World Rally Championship.
Falling under the Gazoo Racing banner, the GR Yaris is powered by an all-new 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 192kW and 360Nm. A six-speed manual transmission sends the torque to the GR-FOUR permanent all-wheel-drive system.
The AWD set-up 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 the flexibility offers performance advantages over an on-demand system.
In normal mode, the base front/rear torque distribution is 60:40, sport mode moves to a 30:70 rear-biased torque split, while track mode employs a 50:50 spread.
Toyota claims the car can sprint from 0-100km/h in “less than” 5.5 seconds on its way to an electronically-limited top speed of 230km/h.
The car has a power-to-weight ratio of 6.7kg per kilowatt thanks to a light-weigh body shell, a new carbon-fibre polymer roof and aluminium bonnet, doors and tailgate. The kerb weight is listed at 1280kg.
According to Toyota, the GR Yaris is built on a dedicated platform that combines the front end of Toyota's GA-B platform with the rear of the GA-C platform.
The new platform allows for a wider rear track and new double-wishbone rear suspension system with reinforcements beneath the side members to maximise the suspension's performance potential. A MacPherson strut system is used at the front.
A performance braking system is standard, featuring 356mm grooved front discs with red four-pot callipers, with 297mm rear discs with two-piston fixed callipers engineered with high-level heat capacity to suit the track. The grip will be provided by Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres.
To deliver the necessary handling, stability and responsiveness, the three-door body’s roofline is 91mm lower, the engine is mounted further back towards the centre of the car and the battery is located in the boot.
Further differentiating the GR variant from the rest of the all-new Yaris range is frameless doors, a unique front grille, larger air intakes, extended wheel arches, twin exhaust tips and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The GR Yaris is the second performance model to be launched globally by Toyota Gazoo Racing, following last year's return of the Supra.
Locally, the GR Yaris is scheduled to launch in Australian late this year, after the regular versions of the new Yaris arrive. Specs and pricing will be announced closer to the launch date.
More: All News
