2020 Toyota GR Yaris Photos, engines & full specs

Toyota made one of the hottest hatches on the market when it introduced the GR Yaris in 2020, a car built for the road so the carmaker could race it in the World Rally Championship.

Rallyes are a different kind of motorsport, with teams and cars running full-speed over bumps, gravel, snow, and tarmac. However, the regulations say that a rally car should be based on a production model and then modified according to specific rules. A carmaker can't build one from scratch and cover it with plastic bodywork that looks like an ordinary car someone could get from a dealer. As a result, automakers started to develop performance road cars that could be transformed according to FIA's (International Motorsport Federation) regulations. But Toyota went even further and built a rally car for ordinary people that they could get from a dealership: the GR Yaris.

Unlike the regular Yaris, the GR Yaris featured a three-door hatchback bodywork. In contrast, its normal sibling was exclusively available with five doors. But the specific differences didn't stop here. The car looked far more aggressive with its broad grille mounted in the air dam covering the lower side of its front. In addition, a set of vertical side scoops housed the fog lamps and air intakes that channeled the air toward the brakes. From its profile, bystanders' eyes were attracted by the rear quarter panels like magnets. There, Toyota placed wide wheels and tires and enlarged fenders. The curved and ascending waistline ended up into a kink and a tilted-forward C-pillar. Finally, the back of the vehicle revealed a spoiler atop the tailgate. Underneath the bumper, there was a diffuser and two round pipes.

Inside, the car didn't boast luxurious materials. It was hard plastic on the door cards and other areas. The dashboard looked like it was carried over from the regular Yaris but sported a GR-specific instrument cluster with a tachometer marked up to 8,000 rpm and a speedometer marked to 280 kph (174 MPH). The high bolstered bucket seats with integrated headrests featured pass-through gaps for a five-point harness, even though those were not present on the car. In the back was one of the most cramped bench seats in the small-size segment category. That area looked more suitable for carrying the racing overall and the helmet. In terms of practicality, the GR Yaris offered a climate control unit, an infotainment system, and front power windows.

But the real reason Toyota made this car was found under the GR Yaris' skin. Under the hood was the punchiest three-cylinder engine on the market. The turbocharged 1.6-liter powerplant was squeezed to provide 261 HP (257 PS), which it sent in all corners via a six-speed manual only. The all-wheel-drive system could send all the power to the front or to the rear axle. In addition, the driver could alter settings and get an even or a rear-biased torque distribution. Toyota built just 25,000 units of this and sold them all in less than a year.