The Toyota GR Yaris Rallye delivers Australian buyers the GR Yaris we should have got all along.
No doubt you watched our video review of the GR Yaris and thought, hold on, this bloke’s bonkers for saying the GR Yaris is a bit, well, dull. You’d have watched other reviews of motoring writers wetting their pants over the thing.
Well, those reviewers were not in Australia. See, the GR Yaris that lobbed Down Under first was a little on the bare bones side of things. Not anymore.
Toyota launched the GR Yaris Rallye to motoring media yesterday and it’s a ripper. Key upgrades include circuit-tuned GR suspension (stiffer springs and anit-roll bars), Torsen limited-slip differentials on the front and rear axles, new wheel-and-tyre package (18-inch BBS alloys wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S high-performance 225/40ZR18 tyres) , and improved front brake ducting to improve cooling. These are the goodies they got on cars OS, as packages, but we’ve had to wait until now for.
To tell this one apart from the other car, besides the different wheels and tyres, there’s a uniquely numbered GR Yaris Rallye plaque on the centre console with an additional Rallye badge on the rear hatch.
Toyota Australia Vice President Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley said, “GR Yaris has delighted enthusiasts since its launch last year as a road-going sports car developed from Toyota’s championship-winning World Rally experience,” Mr Hanley said.
“Now, GR Yaris Rallye dials up the focus on performance, delivering even sharper response and more precise handling, agility, stability and control due to its optimum torque distribution, stiffer suspension and prodigious grip.
“In fact, GR Yaris Rallye is almost the closest you can get to the Yaris World Rally Car without joining our World Rally team.”
The GR Yaris Rallye (200) is priced at a recommended driveaway price (for the first 200 vehicles sold): $56,200.
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