Toyota offers as many as 4 full-fat GR models in South Africa. So, which is the top seller, year to date? Let’s take a closer look at the fascinating sales statistics…
Toyota South Africa Motors’ line-up of full-fat GR products (so, excluding GR-Sport derivatives in the Corolla Cross, Hilux and Land Cruiser 300 ranges) includes as many as 4 models. So, which is leading the pack in local sales, year to date?
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 anyway – are made available locally. So, one could argue the figures below are more representative of availability than outright popularity.
Over the opening 10 months of 2023, the GR86 finds itself in pole position, with 55 units registered (exactly half of the GR total of 110 units). Priced at R755 500 in 6-speed manual guise and R794 000 when fitted with an automatic transmission with the same number of cogs, the GR86 represents the entry point to full-fat GR ownership. As a reminder, the GR86’s naturally aspirated (Subaru-sourced) 2.4-litre, flat-4 petrol mill makes 174 kW and 250 Nm.
Next comes the GR Yaris, with 28 units registered around Mzansi, year to date (despite no sales reported in October 2023). For the record, this small hot hatch generates 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 (the base version was discontinued locally in mid-2022) in the form of the aptly named Rally, which now retails for R840 200.
What about the GR Corolla, for which order books opened back in May 2023 before the local launch a couple of months later (with very few examples set aside for South Africa, we should add)? Well, 17 units have been registered, with the first coming in July 2023. The GR Corolla 1.6T Core is currently priced at R841 000, while the GR Corolla 1.6T Circuit comes in at R902 400.
In either case, the hot hatch employs the same turbocharged 1.6-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine as the GR Yaris, though here it’s been tuned to deliver 221 kW and 370 Nm to all 4 wheels via a 6-speed manual ‘box.
Finally, 10 units of the recently updated GR Supra have been sold between the start of January and the end of October 2023. No registrations were reported for the past 2 months, with 6 coming in July. Now generating 285 kW and 500 Nm from its (BMW-sourced) turbocharged 3.0-litre, straight-6 petrol engine, the A90-series Supra is offered in both 6-speed manual (R1 488 400) and 8-speed automatic (R1 524 400) guise.
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