The hot new Toyota GR Yaris will make its official debut in the SA market in a matter of weeks. An eagle-eyed reader of Double Apex sent us this video of the Toyota GR Yaris spotted in SA.

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Test day?

The video, which was shot at Zwartkops Raceway, shows the GR Yaris as well as several other Toyota models doing laps around the track. A few Supra models as well as Corollas are caught on video. However, it was the little white hatchback that caught the eye of our cellphone-wielding friend, who climbed to vantage point to grab the footage. Considering that the cars are not being driven very hard, it may just have been a dealer training day ahead of the new model’s launch.

Rally rep

The GR Yaris is one of the most exciting cars to be introduced into the SA market this year and certainly a contender for the top hot hatch of the year (click here for the other contenders) title.

This exciting model from the Gazoo Racing (GR) stable of products is the closest thing one can buy to a rally car for the road. The GR Yaris is powered by a 1,6-litre in-line three-cylinder direct-injection turbocharged engine. Toyota says the powerplant has the world’s highest maximum output for a series production three-cylinder engine. 

Click here to check out the newest creation to carry the GR badge, the successor to the GT86, called the GR86.

The high-revving unit is rated at a whopping 200 kW along with 370 N.m of torque. Best part is that the engine is mated solely with a six-speed manual transmission. Its power-to-weight ratio of 156 kW/ton helps deliver a 0-100 km/h time of under 5,5 seconds and a top speed of 230 km/h. Power is sent to the ground via an all-wheel-drive system. The braking system features 356 mm grooved front discs with four-pot calipers – so you know it means business.

We look forward to getting behind the wheel of the GR Yaris, though we plan to drive it a little quicker than seen in the video below.