After the first 1000 cars went in just a week, Toyota has released another 100 examples of its red hot 200kW GR Yaris.
It’s still available at a reduced price, but it will cost you another $5 grand this time around — at $44,950 driveaway.
While the first 1000 examples were $39,950 a piece, that’s still a big savings on recommended retail.
Full price when it officially goes on sale will be $49,500 plus on road costs.
When you’re on a good thing roll with it and Toyota decided to add a little more wood to the fire after the first batch were snapped up.
Toyota’s Sean Hanley said the company’s new “rally car for the road” remained incredible value.
“We deliberately set out to make GR Yaris attainable for sports-car fans and I’d have to say that even we were a little surprised at how quickly the first Toyota sports car in more than 20 years ignited the market,” he said.
“At the new price, GR Yaris continues to have a significant price advantage over equivalent performance cars costing more than $50,000.
“It also remains keenly competitive against conventional hot hatches, while having a decided performance advantage.”
Born in the heat of motorsport, GR Yaris was developed by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in partnership with Tommi Mäkinen Racing, Toyota’s title-winning World Rally Championship (WRC) team.
The new sports car is Toyota’s first homologation model for WRC competition since the end of production of the Celica GT-Four in 1999.
Power is delivered by a new compact and lightweight 200kW, 370Nm 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine that features motorsport technologies for maximum performance.
An intelligent six-speed manual gearbox is designed to accommodate high torque levels while performance brakes are engineered to cope with rigorous demands of high-speed track driving.
Stock availability will vary across the network. Customers are encouraged to contact their closest/preferred Toyota dealer for more information.
GR Yaris is designed to go head to head with the likes of Honda’s Civic Type R, VW Golf R and Renault Megane RS — all with a price-tag of $50,000 plus.
With a power-to-weight ratio of 156kW per tonne, the tiny powerhouse blasts from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds.
Motorsport technologies designed for maximum performance include multi-oil jet piston cooling, large-diameter exhaust valves and a part-machined intake port.
Performance brakes are 356mm x 28mm ventilated front discs with four-pot callipers and 297mm x 18mm ventilated rear discs with two-pot callipers.
The system has been engineered to cope with rigorous demands of high-speed track driving.
Standard equipment includes a comprehensive Toyota Safety Sense package, auto air-conditioning, keyless smart entry and start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 8-speaker JBL sound system.
GR Yaris is also fitted with a rear spoiler, sports seats with suede and leather accents, aluminium pedals and dual exhaust tips.
Pricing for next year’s GR Yaris Rallye special-edition, limited to 250 examples, will be announced closer to its launch.
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