4 minute read
Motoring
The Toyota GR Yaris Rallye threedoor hatchback is hot to trot
RALLYE RALLYE ROUND, ROUND, LADS, LADS, YARIS, HAS YARIS, HAS GONE WILD GONE WILD
DEREK OGDEN
Who’d have thought it: when the Yaris, the replacement for the Echo light hatch in 2005, emerged, that 16 years later the mousey Toyota mini would be tearing up rally tracks around the world. Enter the track-ready GR Yaris Rallye, a highperformance sports car that, according to Toyota Australia Vice President Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley, is almost the closest you can get to the Yaris World Rally Car without joining our World Rally team.
Based on the GR Yaris three-door hatch, the Rallye shapes up with lightweight components and performance parts for drivers who want to experience a higher level of performance.
Upgrades include race track-tuned GR suspension, Torsen limited-slip differentials on the front and rear axles, an ultra-light highperformance wheel-andtyre package and improved front brake ducting for added cooling.
The GR Yaris Rallye is powered by the same 1.6-litre, single-scroll turbocharged, threecylinder petrol engine as the GR Yaris, shooting the car from standstill to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds.
Recommended driveaway price for the initial 200 vehicles sold is $56,200; recommended retail price is $54,500, plus on-road costs.
GR Yaris Rallye is year Toyota Warranty Advantage, seven-year Toyota Warranty Advantage Extended Engine and Driveline, and $260 capped-price services within a sixmonth / 10,000 km period.
STYLING
GR Yaris Rallye features the same three-door body shell as the standard GR Yaris with aerodynamic aluminium panels for the doors, bonnet and tailgate. Along with weight-saving mechanicals, the result is a kerb weight of just 1280 kg.
The Frosted White crystal pearl painted GR Yaris Rallye wears its heart on its sleeve, with exterior badging all over the place, including bright red brake callipers bearing the Toyota Gazoo Racing logo, on lightweight, high-strength 18-inch BBS forged alloy wheels with a 10-spoke design, shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S high-performance 225/40ZR18 tyres for extra grip, stability and control during high-speed driving.
INTERIOR
The aforementioned sporting intent is continued in the cabin, with the descriptor ‘Developed for the FIA World Rally Championship’ predominant on the centre console, along with a plaque, featuring the model number 011, unique to the test vehicle.
The driver-focused cabin diameter leather-wrapped steering wheel with wrapped short-throw gear shifter and handbrake, and aluminium pedals.
Synthetic leatheraccented sports front seats feature large bolsters, red stitching and perforated Ultrasuede inserts, while two rear seats incorporate IsoFix anchor points and are split 60 / 40 to expand the 141-litre luggage space to a maximum 737 litres when the seats are folded.
INFOTAINMENT
A large easy-to-read speedometer and tacho are positioned either side of a 4.2-inch multi-information display that offers a range of details, including sportscar oriented turbo pressure and gear-shift indicators.
Standard premium equipment includes dual-zone climate-control air-conditioning, smart entry and start, satellite navigation, voice recognition, eight-speaker JBL audio, a modern multimedia system and a 7-inch touchscreen display.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
Prodigious performance comes from a 200 kW, and 370 Nm from 3000 to 4600 rpm three-cylinder engine (the world’s most powerful three-pot) put to ground via a GR-Four all-wheel drive system and a sixspeed intelligent manual gearbox with rev-matching up and down shifts.
SAFETY
GR Yaris Rallye features the latest Toyota Safety Sense technologies, including a pre-collision safety system with autonomous emergency braking, intersection assistance, high-speed adaptive cruise control, lane trace assist and road-sign assist.
Other safety features include ventilated disc brakes, emergency steering assist, auto high beam, blind spot monitor, head-up display, reversing camera and six airbags.
DRIVING
Despite the 200 kW and 370 Nm on tap, the engine remained relatively quiet under low revs, but turned into a growling animal when pushed hard wrapped around twin tailpipes.
Gear shifting is slick and smooth but requires precise control by the driver. Allow concentration to lapse and it’s embarrassingly easy to end up in the wrong gear.
With Toyota claiming a combined urban / highway fuel consumption of 7.6 litres per 100 kilometres, per 100 kilometres in stop-start city motoring and 5.9 on the open road,
The two Torsen limited-slip differentials control torque distribution between the left and right wheels to deliver direct car control with enhanced stability, cornering and grip.
GR-Four AWD features three driver-selectable modes - Normal, Track and Sport - that apportion different ratios of front and rear drive according to the mode selected with maximum 60/40, 30/70 and 50/50 splits, respectively.
The front MacPherson strut suspension from the GR Yaris has been upgraded with stiffer springs and anti-roll bars to achieve genuine performance potential. Aussie public roads. A smooth race-circuit surface calls.
SUMMARY
The GR Yaris Rallye: Toyota has come up with a mouse that roars, which may not be to every driver’s taste. I suppose with everything going for it, the $50K-plus price tag should be no surprise to the initiated.
MODEL LINE-UP
Toyota GR Yaris Rallye $54,500 Note: This price does not include government or dealer delivery charges.
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