We Desperately need this Toyota on our roads
why...? because,250+ horsepower, Homolagated for WRC regulation, Four Wheel Drive
Okay, So, you might have guessed it by the description that I am not talking about any ordinary run of the mill Toyota, yes I am specifically talking about The Toyota GR Yaris.
This is Why it's special despite being a Toyota
For starters how can one not fall in love with the way it looks, I know and I get it that looks are subjective but just look at it. It is a beautiful 3 Door Hatchback, with aggressive yet beautiful lines. But then again an ordinary Yaris is quite a good looking car, to begin with.
But The whole objective of The GR Yaris is not just to be a pretty face in Toyota's Portfolio
First, a small History Lesson, which is weird because GR Yaris isn't that old, but is already that impressive that it has made its name onto the list of special and exclusive cars ever made.
You see, The GR Yaris isn't any old hatchback that some engineer or an executive thought it would sell better or help the company's image by just adding a few extra horsepowers and slapping a body kit on a regular Yaris to make it look and feel a little special than normal.
The GR Yaris was conceived because of one man's obsession to represent Toyota' name at the highest form of Motorsports, the name of that person is Akio Toyoda The current president of Toyota Motors Corporation after getting Toyota into the world endurance championship, Toyoda' eyes were set on the World Rally Championship and by 2017 Toyota debuted their first Rally Car since 1999 The Yaris WRC based on Toyota Yaris XP130, which was developed by Gazoo Racing Toyota' racing division and Motorsports legend and 4-Time Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen since it's debut the car has snatched Two Manufacturer title' and Three Drivers Title as of 2021 season, with one driver's and manufacturer title in the hands of Ott Tanak and other two drivers' title in the hands of Rally Legend The 8-Time Rally Champion Sébastien OgÃer and his trusted Co-Driver Julien Ingrassia.
But after the success of Yaris WRC at the hands of Ott Tanak in 2018 and 2019 Toyota decided to take it up a notch and develop a whole new car for the 2020 season, based on XP210 and since the normal Yaris isn't suitable for Rally Racing Gazoo Racing and Tommi Mäkinen got to work to turn a normal XP210 Yaris into The GR Yaris and despite the Financial commitment required Akio Toyoda found it necessary to still go ahead with the car and produce both rally and road-going versions of The GR Yaris to meet the WRC Homologation rules as Akio Toyoda felt it was important for Toyota to be represented at the World Rally Stage.
But we all know The GR Yaris never got to race in the championship, if you've been paying attention GR Yaris was set to make its Debut in WRC in 2020, and everyone who's living and breathing know the type of shenanigans year 2020 brought, which led Toyota to not use the GR Yaris and keep competing with the Yaris WRC until 2021 and bring The GR Yaris onto the rally stage in 2022 when the new Rally 1 rules. Since Toyota didn't race the GR Yaris in 2020 which mean it did not have to make 2500 or so production road-legal models that met the Homologation rules set by WRC.
But yet again good ol' Akio Toyoda came into the picture and gave a green light to go ahead and make the production model and sell them to the general public stating it is his and Toyota' passion project stemming from the desire to develop a sports car purely designed and produced by Toyota alone unlike Toyota 86 which is co-developed by Subaru and Supra, well... We all know how Z3 is the supra developed with BMW. So, there it was a 3 Door, Hot Hatch that was designed and built by a Racing Team and a Rally Legend and Champion, that is powered by a Tiny 3 cylinder Turbo-Charged Engine.
But, Here' why India needs This Car 'Desperately'
Here' the thing India doesn't have or get fun sports cars or driving oriented cars, let alone these incredible Homologation specials like Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO' or Italian specials like Lancia Stratos, 037 and Delta Integrale, or the quirky Ford RS200 and other many more from the French and German manufacturers like Citroen, Peugeot and Audi, or any of the DTM, or Touring car Homologation specials. And it's just sad that cars that connect us and get us a small piece of the action, us normal car enthusiasts, to the marvellous and technologically ingenious sport on earth, aren't available for us to admire at the very least.
But, I see an opportunity with the Toyota GR Yaris in India, although GR Yaris hasn't raced yet, it will though in 2022 with the new hybrid tech and it would be amazing to have something that special grazing our roads even if they come in limited number. Sure, with the import tax system in this country which is about 165% of Tax on the cost of the car will make the car more expensive than the most expensive and top of the line Mercedes E-Class or more powerful alternate like a Ford Mustang.
But, I am pretty sure despite the popular beliefs and general stereotypes India has a couple of Millionaires and Billionaires roaming around and looking to spend a considerate amount on something special and exclusive as The GR Yaris which will surely go down in history. And there are some sightings of The Toyota GR Yaris in Testing on the Indian roads which may or may not be for the Indian market, but hey, fingers crossed. The below link has the photos of the sightings of the GR Yaris in India.
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