Toyota GR Yaris Sells Out 24 Hours After Landing in Mexico

While all sorts of rumours continue to spread about a high-performance Corolla hatchback, the tiny but explosive Toyota GR Yaris finally landed in North America. Not in Canada or the U.S., but rather down in Mexico.

And unsurprisingly, it sold out like hot cakes. In fact, all 300 allocated units were scooped up in less than 24 hours.

Just so you know, the Yaris is still offered in Mexico (unlike here where it bowed out after 2020), although it’s an older model coming from Thailand and not the fourth-generation Yaris that launched in Europe, Asia, Australia and South Africa last year.

Photo: Toyota Europe

Toyota Mexico made a bold move by bringing the GR Yaris, helped by less stringent crash regulations than in Canada and the U.S., and now 300 lucky customers will get to live the dream over there.

Developed by the same engineers who gave us the formidable GR Supra, and inspired by rally cars competing on the world stage, this almighty variant of the Yaris is a hot little rocket featuring the world’s most powerful three-cylinder engine, delivering up to 268 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h is achieved in just 5.5 seconds.

The turbocharged 1.6-litre engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and a multi-plate clutch centre differential. Three drive modes are available and torque distribution between the front and rear axles varies accordingly: Normal (60/40), Sport (30/70) and Track (50/50).

Photo: Toyota Europe

The Toyota GR Yaris also benefits from a new double-wishbone rear suspension and upgraded brakes all around. 

It’s not like we’ve come up empty-handed, mind you. The second-generation 2022 Toyota GR 86 is coming to Canada with a new 2.4-litre mill producing 232 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Sprints from 0-100 km/h are claimed in 6.3 seconds. Fine numbers, for sure, but we suspect this coupe is not as exciting as the GR Yaris.

Share on Facebook

More on the subject

NewsSubaru, Toyota Reportedly Co-developing AWD Hot Hatch
Now that Subaru has introduced the second-generation BRZ , fans and auto journalists alike are turning their attention to the future WRX and WRX STI . A couple of concepts and several rumours have provided clues about their styling and powertrain. This week, Japanese website Best Car Web reported that …
News250-hp Toyota GR Corolla May be Coming to Canada
Remember the sensational new Toyota GR Yaris ? Of course you do. We told you about it just over a month ago following its premiere at the Tokyo Auto Salon in Japan. This hot little rocket, developed by the same engineers who gave us the formidable GR Supra , boasts …
New ModelsWould You Want a Toyota Yaris With Hybrid Tech, AWD?
Warning: The striking new Toyota product you’re about to see here will not come to North America. But given that the C-HR is a fake SUV with no all-wheel drive option, wouldn’t it be sweet? Built on the compact Toyota GA-B platform, the Yaris Cross unveiled today for the European …
New Models2023 Toyota GR Corolla: 300 Horsepower, AWD, 6-Speed Manual
The GR Supra and GR 86 will soon be joined by another model developed by Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division. The new 2023 GR Corolla is a high-performance variant of the Corolla Hatchback that will go head-to-head with top-level compact sports cars like the Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf …