Toyota Yaris/Vitz GRMN Turbo

The Toyota Yaris (formerly known as the Echo) is a decent little car that gets you from point A to B, without any drama, style, or driving pleasure.  It’s not an enthusiast’s car, it’s pretty slow but it does the job it’s meant to do, namely: ferry people around.  My sister even has an Echo, and I get to drive it once in a while; I’ve always said it could be a great little car with a more powerful engine, better transmission, and an upgraded suspension and tire/wheel package.

That’s exactly what Toyota was thinking when they introduced the Toyota Vitz (Japanese version of the Yaris) GRMN.  The Vitz GRMN is a small car with decent power and sporty suspension, produced in collaboration with Gazoo Racing.

The Toyota Vitz GRMN is powered by a turbocharged 1.5 liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 150 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque.  The standard Yaris/Vitz’s engine produces 108 HP, so it’s quite a jump over the standard car.  Power is sent to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox.  The suspension and brakes have been upgraded and the Vitz GRMN rides on 17” wheels with 215/45R 17 tires.  Toyota didn’t provide any acceleration or top speed figures, but this is a small car that weighs 2,360 pounds, so it should be pretty fun to zip around in the city.

Aesthetically, the Vitz GRMN sets itself apart from its lesser siblings by a choice of Black Mica or Super White II paint and is offered as a 3-door model only.  The car gets a new front and rear bumper with a diffuser, side skirts, and a roof mounted spoiler.   The interior is upgraded with bucket seats, silver colored instruments, three-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals. If you do decide to go with the Toyota Yaris, you should also consider what to do with your old vehicle. You can always give your car to charity, which many consider to be a win-win scenario. After all, you don’t usually see much of a return on scrapping an old vehicle, plus the donation of a vehicle can help put a number of causes. You could be helping out a starving child or a veteran in need. And unless you’re buying the Toyota Yaris for a family member, you likely won’t need your old car.

The Toyota Vitz GRMN turbo is limited to 200 units (available in Japan only) with a price tag of ¥2,700,000 or about $28,000 US at today’s exchange rate.  Via: Toyota