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Toyota GR Yaris: from Rally to Road

• South African introduction planned for mid-2021

• Will join GR Supra in Toyota’s GR product portfolio

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• 1st Turbocharged AWD Toyota in SA History

• Spiritual successor to the Celica GT- FOUR

GR Yaris has all the credentials for competition success. At its heart is a new 200kW/370Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine - the world's most powerful mass-produced three-cylinder powerplant.

Along with an all-new platform, unique three-door body, aerodynamic styling and a new GR-FOUR permanent all-wheel drive system, GR Yaris has an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 156kW/tonne and sprints from 0-100 km/h in 5.2 seconds.

GR Yaris is the first all-Toyota sports car and the company's first homologation model for WRC competition since the Celica GT-FOUR ended production in 1999. It brings motorsport technology directly to the world of the road car through the combined design and engineering skills of Toyota's title-winning TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and World Rally Championship teams.

Aerodynamic design and sports performance As a bespoke three-door, the low tapered side profile and wide squat stance of GR Yaris mark it as a serious performance car. Sharing just three exterior components with the Yaris hatch - headlights, taillights and mirrors - the sculpted, aerodynamically designed car achieves a kerb weight of just 1280kg1.

It features a Toyota-first carbon-fibre roof and aluminium panels for the bonnet, doors and tailgate.

The lightweight, compact 200kW turbo engine adopts motorsport technologies to deliver an exhilarating drive experience, including multi oil-jet piston cooling, machined intake ports and large-diameter exhaust valves. It is also equipped with direct and port fuel-injection, high-speed combustion, a single scroll ball-bearing turbocharger, an aluminium oil cooler and a large-capacity water pump and air cleaner.

Click below to read more. (The full article can be found on page 21)