Slowly but steadily, Toyota South Africa Motors has been growing its range of full-fat GR performance products, with the line-up now standing at 4 distinct models. So, how many Toyota GR units (note, we’re not including GR Sport derivatives in this exercise) have been sold locally in the first 5 months of 2023?
Well, before we dive into the figures, it’s worth keeping in mind limited numbers of each of these GR products – which, as performance derivatives, tend to be low-volume models – have been made available locally. In addition, we’re unfortunately not able to include the new GR Corolla here, since the brand reports a total Corolla hatchback figure (though order books for this highly anticipated hot hatch opened in SA only in the 2nd half of May anyway).
So, that leaves us with the GR Yaris, GR86 and GR Supra. Between them, these 3 models accounted for 45 units from the start of January to the end of May 2023, according to figures reported to Naamsa. The most popular of the trio was the GR86, with 25 registrations over the reporting period (9 of which came in January 2023).
The strongest-selling full-fat GR model year to date in SA in the GR86.
As a reminder, the 2-strong GR86 local range kicks off with the 6-speed manual model for R733500, while specifying the automatic cog-swapper will cost you an additional R37400. Regardless of chosen transmission, the naturally aspirated (Subaru-sourced) 2.4-litre, flat-4 petrol mill makes 174 kW and 250 Nm.
The GR Yaris wasn’t too far behind, ending the 5-month period on 18 registrations. This little hot hatch makes 198 kW and 360 Nm from its turbocharged 1.6-litre, 3-cylinder petrol motor, which feeds all 4 wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox. There’s just a single derivative on offer (with the base version having been discontinued locally in mid-2022) in the form of the Rally variant, retailing for R815700.
Finally, just 2 units of the recently updated GR Supra were registered in the opening 5 months of the year, both coming in May 2023 (remarkably, before that, Toyota SA Motors last sold a new GR Supra in May 2022). Now boasting 285 kW and 500 Nm from its (BMW-sourced) turbocharged 3.0-litre, straight-6 petrol engine, the GR Supra is offered in both 6-speed manual (R1 417500) and 8-speed automatic (R1 451800) guise.
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