Summarize

They say that if you put your mind to something, you may just achieve it. Toyota is one of those companies, that from a performance point of view, I often ask why it cannot apply these vast resources to building unbeatable performance cars. 

Seems boss Akido Toyoda may have been thinking the same. You can’t buy a Yaris GRMN in South Africa, but the local arm has brought a few in to tickle your fancy, test your reaction. The GRMN bit doesn’t mean German or Garmin either – it means Gazoo Racing – Toyoda-san’s pet project that includes Le Mans and Dakar and MN tells you it’s a full-spec Gazoo too.

And it’s brilliant – the 156kW 250Nm Magnusson supercharged 1798cc 16 valve four-pot powers the front wheels through a six-speed manual with a Torsen limited-slip differential for GTI-munching six second 0-100 km/h and an electronically limited 230 km/h. 

Let’s get that straight – drop GRMN’s tough clutch at any decent revs, floor it and it lights the tyres right through first and into second before delivering a GTI-destroying six-second dash in spite of having to change to third just before 100km/h. Put slightly bigger rubber on it to see it to 100 in second and it’ll smash that six second barrier too.

That’s partly thanks to a class leading 7.28 kg/kW power to weight ratio, which also brings kart-like dynamics and production racer habits. This is a little race car for the road…

Also clearly influenced by Yaris WRC, its larger brakes and slick short-throw gear shift conspire to deliver ultimate point and squirt driving. Never mind that it looks very much the part too in GR white, black and red with so cool 17-inch BBS alloys.

Only 400 GRMNs were built and sadly, none will come to SA, well none of this model anyway. But character like this, demand should quickly change all that too. 

QUICK TEST: Toyota Yaris GRMN

Engine:    156kW 250Nm 1798cc supercharged petrol I4

Drive: 6-speed manual FWD

TESTED: 

0-100km/h: 6.09 sec   

0-160km/h: 13.86 sec

400m: 14.2 sec @ 162km/h

80-120km/h: 3.66sec

120-160km/h: 5.77 sec       

CLAIMED:       

VMax: 230km/h 

Fuel: 7.5 l/100km

CO2: 170 g/km

Warranty/Service N/A

LIST PRICE: N/A

RATED:    90%