Toyota GR Yaris stop-sale announced

The Toyota GR Yaris is no longer available to order in Australia and there’s no word on when the rally-bred hatchback will go back on sale.

Fitted with the world’s most powerful three-cylinder production engine, the turbocharged 200kW/370Nm all-wheel drive hot hatch has been in even hotter demand since Toyota announced the first batch of 1000 cars last year at a discounted price of $39,950 drive-away.

Those were snatched up in less than a week, before the Japanese car-maker promised it would deliver at least 2000 examples of the GR Yaris and its hotter GR Yaris Rallye sibling by the end of 2021.

Toyota says it has delivered about 1700 GR Yaris vehicles in Australia since September 2020 and, as of April when the Rallye version was launched, held a further 2200-plus orders.

Now priced at $49,500 plus on-road costs, the Toyota GR Yaris comes with 18-inch Enkei wheels and Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres, while the GR Yaris Rallye ($54,500 plus ORCs) gets lighter BBS 18s with stickier Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres and a Torsen limited-slip differential at both ends, plus red brake callipers.

Late today Toyota Australia announced it is placing a temporary pause on future orders from tomorrow (July 1), as it struggles to secure enough stock of the in-demand pocket rocket.

Toyota Australia boss Sean Hanley said the GR Yaris has given an enormous boost to the awareness and appeal of the Japanese car-maker’s newly launched Gazoo Racing performance brand in Australia.

“The GR Yaris is a fan favourite with enthusiasts and we are pleased that we have been able to ignite the performance-car market,” he said.

“This vehicle continues to exceed expectations and we look forward to continuing our momentum with the GR brand in Australia.”

Toyota Australia said it expects to announce “a recommencement of order taking” for the GR Yaris hot hatches soon and continues to negotiate to secure further supplies from Japan.