It's here, it's angry and it's not going to be cheap: UMW Toyota Malaysia (UMWT) has launched the insane, fully-imported from Japan (CBU) 2020 Toyota GR Yaris in Malaysia through an online event barely half an hour ago, alongside the 2020 Toyota Vios GR Sport.

2020 Toyota GR Yaris price and variants

Built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, UMWT has brought in just one variant of the GR Yaris - but it comes with the Performance Pack. Good to know that the base-spec RS - a front-wheel drive variant with a CVT, offered only in certain markets - didn't make it here.

This is the spec-sheet of the full-fat GR Yaris in Malaysia:

And since the local cars are outfitted with the Performance Pack, it comes with beefier suspension, a thicker front anti-roll bar, forged 18-inch BBS alloy wheels wrapped in 225/40R18 Michelin Pilot 4S tyres and a Torsen limited-slip differential.

The burning question's answer is here, prices for the GR Yaris is as below:

Update: UMWT has revised the GR Yaris' price - it now stands at RM 286k until 30-June 2021.

Besides that, UMWT is also offering an Early Bird Package that will see buyers of the GR Yaris receive an exclusive helmet bag, a GR Yaris scale model and entry to a GR Yaris Driving Experience in 2021 - all of which is said to be worth RM 5,000.

So with that thrown in, it really makes the GR Yaris quite a bargain - especially considering it's much cheaper than the 2020 Honda Civic Type R which goes for circa RM 330,000.

Wah, it's just a Yaris, so expensive?

Hold that thought - it's not just another Yaris. It's been developed by Tommi Mäkinen (multiple-time world rally champion) and it's chock full of rally technologies inside. 

There's an advanced all-wheel drive system (loosely based on the Toyota RAV-4), while its suspension and underpinnings are shared with Sebastian Ogier’s World Rally Championship (WRC) race car. In short - it's a road-legal, WRC car.

And then there's the GR-Four system: in Normal mode the torque is split 60:40 front to rear, in Sport the torque split is 30:70 while in Track mode, the torque split is a perfectly balanced 50:50 distribution. 

2020 GR Yaris interior

Its no-frills rally car for the road DNA is apparent in its rather spartan interior. It's all dark grey and black inside - from the headliner to the leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather seats. 

But it's still not missing creature comforts. There's dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, a head-up display and of course, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support - blasting your favourite songs through a six-speaker setup. 

There's 141 litres of bootspace, not exactly the most practical but the 60:40 split-fold seats will help with that somewhat. 

2020 GR Yaris safety features

Other than the hair-raising, Top-Gear approved performance, the GR Yaris comes with a host of safety features, including the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS):

• Forward collision warning (FCW, PCS in Toyota's terms)
• Lane departure warning with steering assist (LDW)
• Dynamic radar cruise control with lane-tracing assist (DRCC)
• Automatic high beams (AHB)
• Blind spot monitor with rear-cross traffic alert (BSM, RCTA)

Besides the customary anti-lock braking system as well as traction and stability controls, the GR Yaris comes equipped with 6 airbags (front, front sides and curtains) as well as ISOFIX tether points. 

2020 GR Yaris Malaysian availability

Now open for booking, the GR Yaris is available exclusively only at selected Toyota dealers, so not all dealers will carry the model. To be specific, it's only available at GR Garage outlets. The outlets are:

• Fokus Tetap (Shah Alam)
• PCM Klang Motor (Klang)
• Wing Hin Automobile (Balakong)
• Telagamas Motor (Kulim)
• Mutiara Motorsports (Johor Bahru)

Customers can choose between three colours (Platinum White Pearl, Emotional Red and Precious Black) and all cars are backed with a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty. 

With a production run of only 25,000 units of which less than 200 units are allocated for us, you have to be fast to snag one - we might never see a car like this ever again.

Meanwhile, in other Toyota news...

As mentioned, launched alongside the GR Yaris is the hottest Vios yet, the Vios GR Sport. It features loads of goodies beneath its angry looks but for more, check out this article!

And...these two new cars are only the tip of the iceberg. 2021 is bound to be an exciting year due to these Toyota cars making their way to our shores.