Toyota Brings the Motorsports-Inspired GR Yaris to the Middle East with New Aero Performance Package

Toyota proudly announces the arrival of the GR Yaris to the Middle East for the first time. Born from the challenges and triumphs of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Super Taikyu Series and Japanese Rally Championship, this model introduces the new Aero Performance Package, developed to elevate aerodynamic efficiency, cooling performance, and driving stability. It invites drivers across the region to be part of a new era for the ever-popular Yaris, one where ever-better cars come from never-ending change.

Originally launched in Japan in 2020, the GR Yaris was the first Toyota model developed with a motorsport-first approach. Drawing on the expertise of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT), which recently helped secure Toyota’s fifth consecutive FIA WRC manufacturers’ championship win, the model has been engineered to respond precisely to input across all road conditions, ensuring confidence and control in every drive.

Beyond its competition heritage, the GR Yaris also embodies the spirit of Toyota craftsmanship. Each vehicle is carefully assembled at the GR FACTORY, a dedicated production line within Toyota’s renowned Motomachi Plant. There, a team of takumi (master craftspeople) uphold the brand’s highest standards of precision and performance, bringing motorsport-derived technology to life through meticulous craftsmanship.

Akio Toyoda (Morizo), Toyota Chairman and Master Driver, said: “The GR Yaris is a car developed for win. In the past, we tried to succeed in motorsport by adapting production cars for competition — this car reverses that process. There is no limit to how far we can improve it, and the final touches should be made by your own hands.”

Motorsport lies at the heart of Toyota’s pursuit of ever-better cars, with the GR Yaris serving as a rolling laboratory for innovation and continuous improvement. Guided by a phrase embodying the development spirit frequently used by engineers at the GR Yaris development site, “Thank you for breaking it”, every challenge on the track becomes a lesson that drives progress.

Developed through extensive driver feedback and refined through competitions across the world, the new GR Yaris combines motorsport-proven engineering with precision-tuned aerodynamics. Power comes from a 1.6-liter inline three-cylinder direct-injection turbo engine (G16E-GTS) producing 296 HP and 400 Nm of torque. This compact, high-output unit is paired with either a newly developed 8-speed Automatic Transmission model (AT), or a six-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT) that provides quick, accurate shifts and a direct, connected driving feel. The GR-FOUR full-time 4WD system, featuring an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch and three selectable modes, continuously balances torque between the front and rear wheels to maximize traction and cornering stability on diverse road surfaces.

Complementing this drivetrain, the Aero Performance Package enhances downforce, cooling, and high-speed balance through six precision-engineered components. These include a ducted aluminum hood modeled after the GRMN Yaris that improves cooling performance, a front lip spoiler to reduce lift, fender ducts that release trapped air from the wheelhouses to improve steering response, a fuel-tank undercover that smooths underbody airflow, a variable rear wing that enhances high-speed stability, and rear bumper ducts that counter the “parachute effect” under heavy aerodynamic loads.

GR Yaris Development Team (Aero Package) commented: “The Aero Performance Package was developed hand-in-hand with professional drivers through uncompromising testing in rally and circuit conditions. Based on feedback from drivers like Oshima , we expanded beyond the original plan and introduced new features such as the front lip spoiler to maximize balance, stability, and performance.”

Lightweight materials reinforce this dynamic foundation: aluminum hood, doors, and rear hatch, together with a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, lower the center of gravity and improve rigidity. The front MacPherson strut and rear double-wishbone suspension deliver responsive, composed handling, while front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials, forged aluminum wheels, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires ensure exceptional grip and steering precision. 

As with any Toyota vehicle, safety is a top priority for the new GR Yaris. Drivers can enjoy complete peace of mind thanks to Toyota Safety Sense, a comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assistance technologies designed to support confident driving in all conditions. The system includes six SRS airbags, a Pre-Collision System (PCS), Emergency Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control System (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Emergency Steering Assist (daytime), Lane Trace Assist (LTA), and an Adaptive High-beam System (AHS) for enhanced visibility at night.

In addition, the GR Yaris features a Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) with auto brake to help prevent collisions when reversing, as well as an Emergency Call (eCall) system that is available in some markets, which automatically alerts emergency services in the event of a serious accident. Other safety technologies include Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Vehicle Stability Control (S-VSC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist (BA), and a Tire Pressure Warning System (TPWS). 

The new GR Yaris gives drivers the opportunity to express their style with a choice of five distinctive exterior colors: Platinum White Pearl Mica, Super White II, Precious Black, Precious Metal, and Emotional Red. Inside the cabin, the performance-focused atmosphere is emphasized through two sporty interior themes: Black x Red, which highlights the GR racing identity with contrast accents, and a full Black option for a more minimalist look.

With these refinements and features, the GR Yaris continues to embody Toyota’s motorsport DNA in a package built for everyday driving excitement. Nobuyuki Takemura, Chief Representative of T-LOSA, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “The Middle East has a deep passion for performance and motorsport, and we are thrilled to bring the GR Yaris to our customers. With its rally-proven DNA and the latest aerodynamic advancements, the GR Yaris is more than a car, it is a statement of Toyota’s commitment to driving excitement and ever-better cars for our region.”