2022 Toyota GRMN Yaris unveiled, limited-edition hot hatch not coming to Australia
Toyota has formally taken the covers off the highly-anticipated 2022 Toyota GRMN Yaris – a lightweight, track-focused version of its hero hot hatch – at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon today.
But there is sad news for Australian fans of the car. Toyota Australia says it has no plans to import the limited-edition vehicle, of which just 500 are expected to be built for the Japanese domestic market.
A spokesperson for Toyota Australia said: “[We are] aware of local consumers’ strong appetite for high performance vehicles and particularly hatches and will continue to bring as many exciting new products to our market as possible. In this instance, the GRMN Yaris is currently only available as a Japanese Domestic Market offering for a limited volume of 500 vehicles.”
In addition to its lightweight components and track-focused chassis tune, the turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine has had a slight torque bump from 370Nm to 390Nm. However, power stays put at 200kW.
As with regular Toyota GR Yaris models, the GRMN edition retains a six-speed manual transmission (although the ratios have been lowered), all-wheel-drive, and four-piston calipers for the front brake discs.
The rear seats have also been removed to save weight and incorporate a partial roll-cage, while Recaro bucket seats come standard in the front.
Two variants will be offered; A dirt-focused “Rally package” (first in the gallery below) and a track-focused “Circuit package”
(second in the gallery below).The former features an under-body guard package, updated shock absorbers and smaller wheels (intended to be replaced with rally wheels and tyres), while the latter forgoes the standard roll-cage, but picks up 18-inch brakes, a lip spoiler, and large carbon-fibre wing at the rear.
One of the barriers to bringing the Toyota
GRMN Yaris to Australia is believed to be price – and the cost to resubmit the vehicle for local homologation testing.
The standard Toyota GR Yaris is priced $49,500 plus on-road costs in Australia, while the Rallye edition (which gains limited-slip differentials, Michelin tyres, and lightweight wheels) is priced from $54,500 plus on-road costs.
In Japan, the Toyota
GRMN Yaris is slated to cost between ¥7,317,000 and ¥8,467,000 – the equivalent of $AU88,000 to $AU101,000.The 2022 Toyota
GRMN Yaris was displayed alongside a competition rally version at the Tokyo Auto Salon, a motor show for enthusiast cars which opened today.
Yesterday, a passerby caught the Toyota
GRMN Yaris undisguised on the Tokyo Auto Salon stand while it was being set up for the show.However, prototype versions of the Toyota
GRMN Yaris have been caught on camera for more than year.Multiple test sessions have been snapped at Germany’s Nurburgring circuit (see gallery below).
You can rewatch the YouTube video of the 2022 Toyota
GRMN Yaris unveiling at the Tokyo Auto Salon by clicking this link.Meantime, let us know in the comments section below if you believe the cost of the Toyota
GRMN Yaris would be too expensive for Australia, and if you think Toyota Australia should import the car.The post 2022 Toyota GRMN Yaris unveiled, limited-edition hot hatch not coming to Australia appeared first on Drive.