Toyota GR Yaris is likely to hit Malaysian shores soon

KUALA LUMPUR: Being the second model in Toyota's high-performance Gazoo Racing range, GR Yaris made an official debut in January. It is a homologation model for the firm's 2021 WRC (World Rally Championship) contender, and perhaps among the most exciting performance cars of the year. 

The new Toyota GR Yaris is set to make its first appearance in the UK this week, ahead of October launch. And we also have an update about its Malaysian debut. 

UMW Toyota recently posted a picture of the GR Yaris on its Facebook page, with a caption explaining what it is all about. It reads as "Some are born great, some achieved greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. As for GR Yaris, it is all three".

"Born from Toyota's title-winning experience in the WRC, the GR Yaris is a pure performance car and a product of our philosophy, to push the limits of our vehicle beyond boundaries through motorsports, all towards achieving the goal of producing ever-better cars, just for you!"

However, the company did not mention the arrival of the hot hatchback in Malaysia, but where there is smoke, there is fire, so be excited.

The 2020 Yaris GR is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine that generates 257 PS maximum power and 360 Nm of peak torque. The 3-cylinder motor is coupled with a 6-speed transmission. The potent hatchback benefits from the carbon fiber polymer and aluminium used in its construction to keep the weight low.

In contrast to regular Yaris, the hot hatch has a different body, with a lower roof, three doors instead of five, and significantly redesigned bodywork to aid aerodynamics. It is built on a special four-wheel-drive version of Toyota's TNGA platform, with the front end of the GA-B small car architecture and the rear from the GA-C of the larger Corolla.

The 2020 Toyota GR Yaris price starts at £29,995 in the UK, which means it may cost you around RM 162,000 when the car goes on sale in the Malaysian market. We hope that Toyota will soon make an official announcement on its local arrival.

Also read: 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross debuts in Thailand