304 hp, vertical handbrake: the Toyota GR Yaris 2025 is crazy

Hampered in France by the ecological penalty, the new evolution of the Toyota Yaris GR will nevertheless make the journey to Europe.

Two letters, a rising legend: GR. For Gazoo Racing, the motorsport division of Toyota, this signature embodies the direct link between production cars and competition. And if there is one model that exemplifies this philosophy, it’s the GR Yaris. Introduced in 2020, the Japanese compact has continually roared its small turbo three-cylinder on both regular roads and rally stages. But in 2025, even if the beast evolves further, it faces an even more unexpected adversary: the French ecological penalty.

From rally to road: a genesis unlike any other

Rarely has a car embodied the philosophy “from motorsport to the road” so well. The GR Yaris isn’t just a marketing stunt: it was designed from the start to homologate Toyota’s WRC rally car. Three doors, a special chassis, a carbon roof, an in-house all-wheel drive system called GR-Four, and a surprising 1.6 turbo three-cylinder delivering 261 horsepower to all four wheels in the European version.

Quite an alien, then. But an alien that has managed to charm: purists and engineers alike saw proof that offering a passionate car was still possible. And Toyota has never ceased to improve it, through rally commitments both in Japan and worldwide.

304 horsepower and even more precision

The 2025 version goes even further. It now boasts 224 kW (304 hp) and 400 Nm of torque, with both manual and automatic transmissions. Yes, an 8-speed automatic gearbox appears — designed by Gazoo Racing and made for ultra-fast gear changes, much like a racing transmission.

But the evolution doesn’t stop there: revised steering, increased rigidity thanks to reinforced bolts, recalibrated damping, a vertical handbrake as an option (even with automatic), a dashboard oriented towards the driver… The GR Yaris becomes an even sharper machine, without losing its raw character.

Even the tuning was overseen by a certain Kazuya Oshima, a professional driver, to ensure the driving experience remains as pure and direct as on the very first day.

A toy (very) taxed in France

But here’s the catch: in France, this engineering showcase is no exception to the heavy ecological taxation. With CO₂ emissions exceeding 190 g/km, the Yaris GR is now hit hard by the 2025 tax penalty. Result: €70,000 in taxes at purchase, on top of a base price already around €50,000.

In other words: a sporty car that was once within reach is now an elitist sports car in reality, costing over €110,000. This penalty, designed to curb high-powered, heavy SUVs, applies with the same severity to a 1,300 kg compact built for efficiency.

Should we still believe in sporty cars?

The 2025 GR Yaris has never been so refined. It perfectly embodies Gazoo Racing’s DNA, combining unique technology, racing experience feedback, and raw pleasure. But it also, inadvertently, highlights a certain French paradox: a country that officially promotes industrial excellence and green innovation, yet fiscally penalizes combustion-powered sports cars, even light and high-performance ones.

Still, for enthusiasts willing to take the plunge — and pay the hefty price — this new GR Yaris promises to become a future legend. More than a purchase, a manifesto.

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