Toyota has unveiled a potent new version of the popular GR Yaris at the Tokyo Auto Salon, officially dubbed the GRMN Yaris. The hot hatch will be limited to the Japanese market and capped at just 500 units nationwide. It has undergone a number of upgrades over the standard GR Yaris and can be optioned with the Circuit Package or Rally Package, both of which have shed some weight.
All Toyota GRMN Yaris models have a closer
ratio six-speed manual transmission than the standard car. The rear seats have
also been removed and both models have carbon fiber hoods. The number of spot
welds has also increased by 545 compared to the GR Yaris, resulting in improved
body rigidity. New Recaro bucket seats have also been installed.
Continuing to power the GRMN Yaris is the
standard model’s 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine, pumping out 268
hp in Japanese specification and 287 lb-ft (390 Nm) of torque, a slight
increase over the 370 Nm of the regular GR Yaris. The GRMN Yaris
also features mechanical limited-slip differentials at both the front and rear,
rather than the Torsen diffs of the standard car.
Upgrades made to the Circuit Package
include the fitment of bespoke 18-inch wheels from BBS, enlarged brakes, new
Bilstein adjustable shocks, a carbon fiber rear wing, extended side skirts, and
a new front lip. According to Toyota, it’s 20kg lighter than the
standard GR Yaris. The Circuit Package version of the GRMN Yaris is also
available with a Matte Steel paint finish that will be capped at just 50 units.
As for the Rally Package, it includes new
Toyota shocks and stabilizer bars, an under guard set, and a roll bar. It’s
also 30 kg lighter than the GR Yaris.
Japanese pricing for the GRMN Yaris starts
at 7,317,000 yen (US$ 64,108) and increases to 8,467,000 yen (US$ 74,183) for the
Circuit Package and 8,378,764 yen (US$ 73,410) for the Rally Package. Toyota will
run a lottery to determine who can purchase one of the 500 units.
