RE: Toyota teases new Yaris GR-4

RE: Toyota teases new Yaris GR-4

Wednesday 18th December 2019

GR Yaris gets WRC driver endorsement | Update

Homologation special is due for reveal at Tokyo next month - but the video-based build-up continues



Clearly still afflicted by the marketing bug which saw Toyota pursue the longest campaign of sneak peeks, teasers, leaks and spy shots in living memory for its new Supra, the Japanese manufacturer has released yet another video of its upcoming GR Yaris.

Now known by that name, rather than the Yaris GR-4 moniker attached to the concept, the video depicts 2019 WRC winner Ott Tanak, Kris Meeke, Jari-Matti Latavala and team principal/ rally legend Tommi Makinen behind the wheel of the pre-production machine. And while the video itself is pretty tame and the drivers' impressions are limited to one sound bite each - simply "Exciting." in the case of Makinen - there's plenty to be intrigued by when it comes to the car itself.

That's because, while modern WRC regulations mean that competition cars can bear far less resemblance to their road-going counterparts than they once did, a degree of uniformity is still required. And word that Toyota has been willing to push its 2020 entrant beyond these constraints in the pursuit of Hyundai's manufacturer's crown means that a Yaris closer in specification to the rally car will need to be produced, and produced in serious numbers.

The car shown here, then, which is set to debut on January 10th at the Tokyo Auto Salon, ought not to be a limited-run special like the 600 Yaris GRMNs sold last year. Instead over 25,000 examples of the all-wheel-drive hot hatch will need to find their way off the production line in order to validate its WRC sibling, making the GR Yaris a true homologation machine. Exciting indeed, Tommi.


 

UPDATE - 04.12.19

If the thought of a slightly manic, WRC-homologated supermini got you all excited about Toyota's new go-faster Yaris last month, then prepare yourself for the manufacturer's latest teaser video. Forget about Morizo's voiceover or even the distinctly rorty exhaust note (three-cylinders? Four?) it's all about the spirited pull away on sand 16 seconds in - a pull away that virtually confirms the presence of four-wheel-drive under the GR-4's newly flared arches.

The installation of a driven rear axle is good for two reasons. One, because very small performances cars with all-wheel-drive are rare, and usually very good. Two, because it shows that Toyota - a firm with a storied history of overcoming technical hurdles when the mood takes it - has most likely put its back into making the GR-4 proper. And if that has happened, it's fair to assume that the new Yaris is going to be worth the wait.

Word on the internet grapevine (and despite all the 'final test' malarky) suggested the car was all set for its debut at Rally Australia - only to be foiled when the event was cancelled. Chances are then that it won't be very long before we get to mull over the full details. If further speculation is accurate, the GR-4 will be a proper range constituent and not just a low volume special, as the GRMN was. That doesn't mean it'll be affordable, of course. But we'd settle for attainable. And awesome.


ORIGINAL STORY - 07.11.19

We were big fans of Toyota's Yaris GRMN when we drove it nearly two years ago; the lively, engaging hatch proving that the best things can still come in small packages. Only 100 of the limited 600-car production run made it to UK shores, though, meaning that even if buyers could justify the £26,295 asking price, they still weren't guaranteed to get their hands on one.

Now, however, Toyota has officially unveiled a successor for the first time, a post on Twitter teasing Gazoo Racing's latest Yaris project. Having previously hinted that future GR products would be more closely related to the outfit's racing endeavours, the new car is set to be revealed in just 10 days' time. The venue? Rally Australia.


That's an exciting sign for those hoping for a genuine, competition-inspired model. As is the 'GR-4' title which accompanies the teaser - possibly alluding to the presence of a WRC-aping all-wheel drive set-up. In the absence of any concrete details the aggressive bumpers, flared arches and sporty wheels spied during recent Nurburgring tests are the only indication of the potential performance on offer - Toyota hopefully knowing better than to opt for style over substance.

We do also have a few choice words from the Executive VP of Toyota Europe, Matt Harrison, who previously told Autocar of the company's "desire to link Yaris to our success in motorsport. On selected vehicles, we will look at a GR derivative, which is differentiated on these grounds - whether that's displacement or whatever."

That opens the door to the possibility of a rally-styled, all-wheel drive model, powered by something more powerful than the standard car's 1.5-litre four-cylinder motor - an enticing prospect indeed if Gazoo's previous form is anything to go by. Hopefully this time there'll be enough for everyone.


Search for a Toyota Yaris GRMN here

Author
Discussion

wab172uk

Original Poster:

2,005 posts

226 months

Thursday 7th November 2019
quotequote all
I very much doubt they'd then produce an AWD road car.

Ford don't with the Fiesta. Nor does VW with the Polo.

More likely FWD with around 200 bhp

bitofayank

94 posts

68 months

Thursday 7th November 2019
quotequote all
Counterpoint: jalopnik article about a Toyota / Subaru tie up on a wrx replacement

epom

11,398 posts

160 months

Thursday 7th November 2019
quotequote all
Tanak edition GR-4

fernando the frog

298 posts

67 months

Thursday 7th November 2019
quotequote all
isn't the new Yaris a rebadged Mazda 2?

Mike1990

962 posts

130 months

Thursday 7th November 2019
quotequote all
Hopefully they’ll continue where the previous GRMN left off.

Now what about the Corolla GRMN that was showcased a while back ?

Shaqq

20 posts

57 months

Thursday 7th November 2019
quotequote all
fernando the frog said:
isn't the new Yaris a rebadged Mazda 2?
Only for the US market I believe.

86wasagoodyear

381 posts

95 months

Thursday 7th November 2019
quotequote all
Don't know about 'only US market', but whatever, Toyota is onto a good thing adopting it for the Yaris. I recently had a brand new Mazda2 GT over a weekend as a courtesy car while my Mazda3 was being serviced - and ended up fancying keeping the 2. It's a hoot to drive in the real world.

Don Roque

17,990 posts

158 months

Thursday 7th November 2019
quotequote all
I'd love to see one with the twin-deck wing like the WRC car has. It's great to see WRC injecting a bit of excitement back into road cars.

Bibbs

3,733 posts

209 months

Friday 8th November 2019
quotequote all
Hopefully a bit more reliable than the GRMN version.

I know of two sitting with Toyota with boost problems that Toyota can't solve.

xu5

618 posts

156 months

Friday 8th November 2019
quotequote all
Shaqq said:
fernando the frog said:
isn't the new Yaris a rebadged Mazda 2?
Only for the US market I believe.
Yes. You can buy a Mazda 2 in the USA badged as a Toyota. I think they also sold it as a Scion briefly too.

The version of the Yaris in this topic is not Mazda based.

C.MW

472 posts

68 months

Friday 8th November 2019
quotequote all
I find myself much more thrilled about this Yaris than I was about the Porsche 992 911 or the McLaren 600LT. That says something.

Motormatt

484 posts

217 months

Friday 8th November 2019
quotequote all
Serious arch extensions hint that there must be some significant changes under the skin. Great to see Toyota injecting some excitement into cars in this sector!

FourWheelDrifter

39 posts

134 months

Friday 8th November 2019
quotequote all
Here's more info and photos on Paul Tan's blog:
https://paultan.org/2019/11/07/toyota-yaris-gr-4-t...

FourWheelDrifter

39 posts

134 months

Friday 8th November 2019
quotequote all
Still very different to the WRC rally car though!


xu5

618 posts

156 months

Friday 8th November 2019
quotequote all
C.MW said:
I find myself much more thrilled about this Yaris than I was about the Porsche 992 911 or the McLaren 600LT. That says something.
I hear that.

blearyeyedboy

6,252 posts

178 months

Friday 8th November 2019
quotequote all
Is there anything in the Toyota or Mazda parts bin that can donate a small and short 4wd system?

scratchchin

I found the Toyota Pixis, so it might just be possible... Unlikely but given the "GR4" badge, I just wonder...

Edited by blearyeyedboy on Friday 8th November 17:38

ChrisW.

6,210 posts

254 months

Friday 8th November 2019
quotequote all
But it says somewhere that they will need to make 25,000 to homologate it ?

rb26

783 posts

185 months

Friday 8th November 2019
quotequote all
Needs to have awd, 400HP, manual, anti-lag, get 40mpg and cost no more than £15,999.

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Friday 8th November 2019
quotequote all
FourWheelDrifter said:
Here's more info and photos on Paul Tan's blog:
https://paultan.org/2019/11/07/toyota-yaris-gr-4-t...
What a disappointment. I hope it's got some of the aero kit similar to the WRC. Put the big double wing on it and a diffuser and we'll be talking.

blearyeyedboy

6,252 posts

178 months

Saturday 9th November 2019
quotequote all
Ooh, turns out there's a JDM Toyota Vitz that's 4wd with multi link suspension, so it could be done...

I'm going to look like a prat if I'm wrong but I'm hoping for a 4wd monster. smile