In appraising the car’s special qualities, Autocar explains how the car revealed “hidden depths of driver appeal, the likes of which haven’t been seen in a hot hatchback in a generation.” Among the judges, Andrew Frankel declares the GR Yaris to be “the most dynamically capable car ever offered for sale at this kind of money.”
The achievement is a reward for the development team behind GR Yaris, including Toyota Gazoo Racing, its World Rally Championship partner Tommi Mäkinen Racing and a test team line-up of top WRC drivers. Their efforts have delivered a rally homologation special for the road that’s available from just less than £30,000 and with competitive purchase offers for customers keen to secure one of the hottest new prospects on the market.
GR Yaris uses the world’s most powerful three-cylinder engine, turbocharged to produce 257bhp – power enough to move the car from rest to 62mph in 5.5 seconds. It’s built on a dedicated chassis and uses Toyota’s new purpose-designed GR-Four all wheel drive system, adjustable for different front/rear drive balance to suit the conditions, from road to track to special stage. The Circuit Pack version, as tested by Autocar, includes GR-tuned suspension, front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials, lightweight forged BBS alloys and Michelin Pilot 4S performance tyres.