Toyota launched the Yaris Cross in Japan
last week, and the crossover version of the European/JDM Yaris comes with a range of accessories in its
homeland. Among the extra kit that you can specify at Japanese showrooms are GR
Parts by Gazoo Racing.
Yup, you can have a friendly-looking Yaris
Cross looking like a rally replica thanks to parts from Toyota’s motorsports
arm. The car here – which is a range-topping Hybrid Z with E-Four all-wheel
drive – stands out with GR mud flaps, which are available in red or black. Next
to those are unique all-black 18-inch wheels – the 7.5J are paired with 215/50
rubber. The Yaris Cross’ max stock wheel size is 18″, so it’s just a different
GR design.
Rounding off the catalogue are twin
tailpipe mufflers, a textured black
decal that sits along the side of the car (with red pinstripe, placed above the
standard black side cladding) and a piece of black trim with fins beside the
vertical LED DRL strips. Of course, all these parts are purely aesthetic and
are for a bit of harmless fun.
Away from the exterior, there are a couple
of GR branded accessories that can be optioned. The catalogue includes tinting
for the rear windows and rear windscreen, carbon patterned door handle trim, CF
effect license plate holder, sun shades and a boot carpet with red piping at
the GR logo. The more “fancy/luxury” accessories are parked under the
Modellista brand.
The new Yaris Cross has two powertrain
options. The petrol-only version is a 1.5 litre Dynamic Force
naturally-aspirated three-cylinder producing 120 PS and 145 Nm of torque from
4,800 to 5,200 rpm. The Direct Shift CVT can be paired to two- or all-wheel
drive, with a combined fuel economy figure of up to 20.2 km/l (18.5 km/l with
AWD). Hybrid models get an Atkinson-cycle version of the engine, making 91 PS
and 120 Nm from 3,800 to 4,800 rpm. It’s combined with an 80 PS/141 Nm electric
motor to deliver total output of 116 PS; the E-Four version adds a 5.3 PS/52 Nm
rear motor to provide AWD. Claimed FC is up to 30.8 km/l with 2WD and 28.7 km/l
for the E-Four on the WLTP cycle.
While the exterior looks more like a
junior RAV4 than the Yaris supermini, the interior is shared with the B-segment
hatchback. There are 390 litres of boot space with the two-level, 60:40-split
floor in its lowest position, along with 40:20:40-split rear seats and a
powered tailgate. The Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assist systems and
parking assist are available. The Japan-market Toyota Yaris Cross comes in four
petrol variants and three hybrid models. Prices range from 1,798,000 yen for the base X “B Package” front-wheel-drive petrol to 2,815,000 yen for the Hybrid Z with E-Four all-wheel drive.
