• Toyota confirmed a hotter version of its GR Yaris: the GRMN Yaris.
• Only 500 GRMN Yaris units will be built and are exclusively for the Japanese market.
• The GRMN Yaris' torque is increased to 390Nm.
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Toyota announced that they would indeed be producing a GRMN Yaris, but a sense of morbidity accompanies the excellent news for South Africans. The Japanese automaker confirmed that they will be building 500 units of this extra hot Yaris, but the allocation is just for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM).
The GRMN Yaris builds on the successful recipe of the GR Yaris, but adds different technologies and motorsport parts to the equation. In all, the GRMN Yaris is lighter and more rigid than the GR Yaris. Regarding the rear track, the GRMN Yaris has been widened by 5mm to improve grip, with the car's overall width extended by 10mm to improve aerodynamics.
Toyota Japan says in an official statement: "The GRMN Yaris offers race-car like enjoyment while being able to tailor the vehicle to suit the owners' preference and vehicle usage. To this note, two bespoke packages are offered, a Circuit Pack and Rally Pack, each customised to extract maximum performance from the GRMN Yaris in the discipline chosen."
Technical details
The same 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine powers the GRMN Yaris as the GR Yaris. And while the power output remains unchanged at 200kW (Japanese specification), the three-cylinder's torque has been boosted to 390Nm - 20Nm more than the 'normal' GR.
Still sending power to all four wheels via the slick six-speed manual gearbox, the gear ratios are now closer than before, with the low final gear refined using motorsport know-how. A mechanical limited-slip differential (LSD) replaces the Torsen version in the GR Yaris, while the clutch has also been reinforced. The GRMN's weight-saving over the GR is about 20kg.
Had the GRMN Yaris debuted in South Africa, do you think it would have been a sales success? Email us your thoughts or use the comment section below.
Circuit Package:
- BBS GRMN-specific 18-inch wheels
- 18-inch brakes
- Bilstein shock absorber with adjustable damping force
- Carbon (twill weave CFRP) Rear spoiler
- Side skirt
- Lip spoiler
Rally Package adds:
- GR shock absorber and short stabiliser link set
- GR under guard set
- GR roll bar (with sidebar)
