At the heart of the astonishing GR range, which one to choose? – Constrained by the CAFE standard, which imposes on manufacturers a threshold of average CO emissions2 not to be exceeded under penalty of very heavy financial penalties, no one or almost, among the generalists, offers sports in its catalog.
But at Toyota, a strong manufacturer of a predominantly hybrid range, we can afford a few pranks without risking a fine.
And the Japanese firm, known in the past for the lack of character of its vehicles, takes a nice revenge with three models badged GR (for Gazoo Racing)each more attractive than the other.
Toyota GR Yaris (from €37,400)
Designed like a rally car, equipped with four-wheel drive and variable torque distribution, this amphetamine-fed Yaris can be mobile, playful, hilarious, fast and efficient.
It’s a small car (3,995 mm long) saucy, like we don’t make anymore, which is available in the Premium Pack and, for €2,000 more, in the Track.
For sensations, choose the second ; it abandons a lot of comfort/safety equipment (GPS, head-up display, blind spot monitoring, etc.) but stiffens its damping, incorporates forged BBS rims and benefits from front and rear limited-slip differentials.
Enough to perfect your driving and get out of the bends (on the circuit, of course) like Rovanperä, the very young WRC world champion. And under the hood, the 3-cylinder 1.6 turbo 261 hp allows the “city car” to leap like an agile beast.
Are you still hesitating? You are right. Because the price starts at €37,400, to which must be added a penalty of €12,552. In addition, we sit too high behind the wheel; the rear seats are small; the trunk frowns as a small backpack approaches.
The gearbox control, precise and firm, remains a little too slow. And the engine becomes intrusive on the fast lane. But for happily commuting to the office every day, passing through small roads, this 1,280 kg car is a marvel.
She has one last surprise in store: when called upon, the handbrake disengages the rear axle to avoid jamming the transmission. This means that you can shoot it whenever you want, in the dirt roads, in the snowy passes, or in the parking lot of the office by parking in front of the boss.
Toyota GR Yaris : les infos
- Power/torque (hp/Nm): 261/300
- 0 to 100 km/h (s): 5.5
- Vitesse maxi (km/h) : 230
- Long.xlarg.xhaut. (m) : 4,00×1,81×1,46
- Copies sold in France in 2022: 254
Toyota GR86 (from €33,900)
Hit hard by a devastating malus, capped here at half the price of the vehicle (i.e. €16,950)this player coupe risks having only a short French career.
Pure front-engine propulsion, with a decent trunk and two small rear seats, this Japanese car retains the shape of its predecessor, called the GT86, from which it takes up the platform and the principles.
Among them, a mechanical transmission (an automatic gearbox is also available) to the rear axle and a 2.4-liter flat-4 enginewith natural breathing, which displays 234 hp and 250 Nm.
Everything is simple here and, contrary to what all manufacturers claim, the GR86 demonstrates that driving programs are far from essential. Here, no City, Snow, Grandmother or Sport mode, it’s the right foot that decides!
And it’s very good like that, especially with a coupe weighing less than 1,300 kg whose mechanical sound is soberly sympathetic.
The gearbox control, rather fast and well guided, the steering, consistent and natural, and the behavior, well served by seriously improved torsional rigidity (+ 50% compared to the GT86), make this coupé a delightful car.
His reactions and his swaying, especially in the winding parts on the resumption of gas, are rather easy to apprehend. And the mechanical self-locking favors the commas, which the Track mode of the ESP (partial disconnection) happily allows.
Toyota GR86: the info
- Power/torque (hp/Nm): 234/250
- 0 to 100 km/h (s): 6.3
- Vitesse maxi (km/h) : 226
- Long.xlarg.xhaut. (m) : 4,26×1,77×1,31
- Copies sold in France in 2022: 49
Toyota GR Supra (from €56,400)
Developed jointly with BMW, which made it a Z4 roadster, the Supra inherits a technical base and engines from across the Rhine, as well as an interior layout partially shared with the German brand.
First launched with the 340 hp 3.0 turbo inline six-cylinder, the Japanese made in Austria has been available since 2020 in 2.0 liters, with two bowls less. The power of this propulsion drops to 258 hp and the exercise of 0 to 100 km / h requires almost a second more.
Pleasure loses feathers there too, with a more classic mechanical approval and a small lack of nobility. The Supra 2.0 has a few advantages, however, including one quintal less on the scale (1,470 kg) and, of course, a much lower “starting” price.
Count at least €56,400 and €6,375 penalty for the 2.0 liters, €68,400 and €13,682 ecotax for the 3.0 liter.
The latter, however, remains the most powerful, the most endearing mechanism, which corresponds perfectly to the GT spirit of this original coupe, strict two-seater, lively when pushed to its limits.
The 3.0 liter is the only one, too, to be available since the summer of 2022 in a manual gearbox, with the key to a reduction of 22 kg, an automated heel-toe system, very well managed, and increased driving pleasure. But the penalty for this version is soaring: €21,171!
Toyota GR Supra : les infos (GR Supra 3.0)
- Power/torque (hp/Nm): 340/500
- 0 to 100 km/h (s): 4.3
- Vitesse maxi (km/h) : 250
- Long.xlarg.xhaut. (m) : 4,38×1,85×1,30
- Copies sold in France in 2022:
- 4-cylinder: 14
- 6-cylinder: 9 (including 2 in manual gearbox)
Which sporty Toyota to choose: our opinion
Choosing between these three sports is heartbreaking, as they offer so much pleasure. GT enthusiasts will prefer the Supra, the most welcoming and sculptural of the three.
For its price (before penalty), for its rarity, for its simplicity and for its refreshing “old-fashioned” side, the GR86 player is really worth the detour.
But the radical appearance of the GR Yaris, a real little rally car accessible to the general public, continues to be our favourite…
The news of Japanese sports cars, seen by auto-moto.com:
Nissan GT-R: slight restyling for the Japanese sports car
Small sports cars: should we say goodbye to them in 2023?
Honda Civic Type R price: €55,000 for the sports sedan
