UMW Toyota Motor today launched the first new models of 2025 with the updated GR Yaris, GR Corolla and Corolla GR-Sport. All three models have been in the market over the past 3 years and with its kaizen (constant improvement) philosophy, improvements have been ongoing. Many of these improvements come from the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team’s successful participation in the World Rally Championship and World Endurance Championship and in recent years, the Dakar Rally.
Being a racing driver himself, Akio Toyoda understood the value of motorsports in making ‘ever better cars’ as the cars could be tested in extreme conditions. When something failed, it was actually ‘welcome’ as the engineers could then look for a way to make it better. And whatever solutions have been developed are then passed on for use in production models sold to the public.
2025 thus sees the cumulative improvements for the models being incorporated, giving drivers improved performance and making the cars more durable. There are also cosmetic changes on the exterior, a normal evolutionary process for models after some years in the market.
What’s new in the GR Yaris:
Increased output of 1.3-litre turbocharged engine (300 ps/400 Nm)
Additional cooling system (sub-radiator)
Cosmetic changes to front and rear
New instrument panel (same as GR Corolla)
Enhanced suspension durability and handling
New exterior colour (Precious Metal)
Price: RM315,600
What’s new in the GR Corolla
Increased 1.6-litre turbocharged engine performance with 30 Nm more torque
Better cooling with sub-radiator
Improved GR-tuned suspension
Cosmetic changes at the front
Enhancements in the cockpit
Price: RM367,000
What’s new in the Corolla GR Sport
Exterior cosmetic changes
Improved performance with revised ECU programming
New 10-speed transmission
Upholstery changes for GR Sport Seats
Upgraded infotainment display
Price: RM148,800
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and the GR brand
It would be safe to say that TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and the GR performance brand are synonymous with Akio Toyoda, a descendant of Toyota’s founder who became President of the company in 2009 and is now its Chairman. Toyoda had been responsible for the newly created GAZOO.com when he joined Toyota’s board of directors in the early 2000s. This was a website that mainly dealt with new and used cars at dealerships in Japan.
The GAZOO name is believed to have first been used in motorsport when a team of Toyota test drivers, including Akio, participated in the Nurburgring 24-Hour race. As they could not refer to themselves as an official Toyota team then, another name was used and it was likely that Akio picked the name of the website to use.
With active participation in motorsports, the GAZOO name became more associated with Toyota and had various roles in vehicle development, especially high performance products. After Akio became President, he was influential in introducing a more sporty image to the company. That’s understandable as he had grown up during the years of Japanese sportscars like the Levin (AE86) and Celica when Toyota promised to provide cars that would be ‘fun to drive’.
In 2015, Toyota’s various competition units like TRD were unified as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, which became a business entity given the responsibility not only for global motorsports but also development of high-performance products. For the latter, a new brand – GR – was created, giving Toyota a performance brand like what AMG is to Mercedes-Benz and M is to BMW.
GAZOO Racing, as a company, pursued its own business direction focussed on high-performance models with its first being the Supra. This quickly led to other models, some based on Toyota models, being added to the GR range. To further distinguish the GR products, the concept of the GR Garage was started where certain dealerships specialised in GR models and aftersales.
In 2019, the GR brand and GR Garage concept started to appear outside Japan as the Supra started to be sold in many countries. Malaysia was the first country to introduce the GR Garage concept which coincided with the launch of the Supra at the end of 2019.
Another development occurred a year later with the addition of GR-Sport models. This followed a marketing approach which started in Japan in 2017. Perhaps it was to give the GR Garage dealers more models to sell, and GAZOO Racing improved the performance of certain models while giving them sportier looks.
Again, Malaysia was the first country to have GR-Sport models, starting with the Vios GR-Sport. In fact, initially, no other country had such a variant. Development work (mainly suspension tuning) was done in Malaysia as well. The success of the Vios GR-Sport led to Toyota adding other models like the Hilux, Corolla and Corolla Cross. However, unlike the GR models, GR-Sport models are available at all Toyota dealerships.