2021 Yaris GR is Amazing But Won't Come to the U.S.

New Hot Hatch

Successful hatchbacks are few and far in between these days, at least in the United States. Over in Europe, several companies are still very much invested in the category, including America's own Ford! But Toyota's Yaris GR is seemingly head and shoulders above the competition for many reasons, perhaps most notably its powerful 3-cylinder!

Ties to Rally Racing

Developing the industry's top hot hatch is no easy feat, of course. Which means the company has allocated a lot of resources to the project. And the reasoning behind that is connected to Toyota's involvement in Rally racing. And while the Yaris GR isn't exactly a homologation model, it still echoes a lot of the characteristics of a rally car.

>>Join the conversation on GR's awesome hot hatch and that the U.S. won't get it right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Not Even Close to the Base Yaris

Interestingly, in classic Toyota fashion, the Yaris GR has very little in common with the base Yaris. Other than the lights, a few body panels, and the antenna, everything in the Yaris GR has been separately engineered. The powertrain, the drivetrain, and even the structure are different from the regular Yaris.

>>Join the conversation on GR's awesome hot hatch and that the U.S. won't get it right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Powerful 3-Cylinder

The 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder motor in the Yaris GR holds the title of the most potent three banger in the industry, with a whopping 257 horsepower. And with a curb weight of around 2,900 lbs, this thing is a joy to throw around corners. Additionally, the 6-speed manual and a redline of 7200 RPM provide for an amazing automotive experience!

>>Join the conversation on GR's awesome hot hatch and that the U.S. won't get it right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

AWD

True to its rally racing inspiration, the Yaris GR is also equipped with a capable all-wheel-drive system. Which further adds to the fun. It also has a much wider track than the normal Yaris, as well as a sport suspension to help with the cornering duties. No adaptive dampeners here, though. And it's better that way, keeping it a more pure sports car.

>>Join the conversation on GR's awesome hot hatch and that the U.S. won't get it right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Can we Have it, Please?

Unfortunately, Gazoo Racing's plans to enter the rally version of this Yaris GR into the WRC competition this year didn't come to fruition, due to the pandemic. But we're excited to see how things develop in the future. All of that to say that this is a really cool car, and we're praying to the automotive gods to eventually get these little beasts in the U.S.

>>Join the conversation on GR's awesome hot hatch and that the U.S. won't get it right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

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