Toyota’s tiny turbo tearaway is going, going, gone in Australia.
The 2021 GR Yaris is sold out, with only “a small amount of remaining stock at dealerships” in Australia.
Online orders are closed, which means would-be owners will need to find a dealership with a cancelled order or an ex-demonstrator car to get their hands on what is fast becoming one of 2021’s hottest hatches.
Toyota Australia is currently pushing for more supply of the homologation hatchback in the second half of 2021, with pricing to be “announced in due course”.
Launched with a super sharp $39,950 drive-away price for the first 1000 buyers – and followed by a $44,950 drive-away deal for the next 100 cars – the recommended retail price for the GR Yaris is $49,500 before on-road costs.
The first batch of GR Yaris stock will be followed by a more focused GR Yaris Rallye in the first half of 2021, which gains a race suspension, front and rear locking differentials, 18-inch forged BBS alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, and red brake calipers over the regular model.
Power comes from the same turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine with 200kW of power and 370Nm of torque. Pricing for the Rallye is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks. Just 250 will be offered in Australia at launch.
Toyota Australia says it’s using the GR Yaris as an “investment” in the Gazoo Racing brand, giving enthusiasts a chance to experience what Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley describes as a “performance thoroughbred”.
“We want to excite as many fans as possible with a price that makes GR Yaris more appealing, and genuinely attainable,” Mr Hanley today told media.
Mr Hanley said the drive-away price will “accelerate the awareness and excitement around the GR brand by ensuring we have a substantial number of cars on the road”.
Toyota is pushing to make the GR brand a “market-leading performance brand” in Australia, although it acknowledges that won’t happen overnight.
But the car’s performance figures stack up on paper:
- The world’s most powerful production three-cylinder engine makes 200kW and 370Nm
- The GR Yaris tips the scales at just 1280kg
- 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds
The Yaris is all-wheel drive as standard, unlike its front-wheel drive rivals. The Volkswagen Golf R is all-wheel drive, but coming to the end of its production life.
As a rally homologation special – Toyota’s first since the 1999 Celica GT-Four – the GR Yaris also has an on-paper link with the all-wheel drive Subaru WRX STI.
There’s a significantly wider track than the standard Yaris, a bespoke suspension, and uprated brakes measuring 356mm up front and 297mm at the rear.
