The newly introduced Yaris IMP by UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) receives a facelift, boasting updated styling, enhanced technology, and a refreshed interior ambience.
This model builds upon the significant success of its predecessor, having sold over 60,300 units since its initial launch in 2019. The Yaris continues to embody the theme “Dare To Live: Amp Up Your Vibe,” appealing to a youthful audience by offering joy and excitement to those seeking a vehicle that aligns with their modern and forward-thinking sense of style.
The latest Toyota Yaris is now available in two variants: the 1.5E and 1.5G. Both variants feature sporty front and rear skirting, along with an optional 2-tone paint finish that includes a striking black roof. In total, there are 5 color combinations to choose from, with red mica metallic and platinum white pearl colours available in both single or two-tone options. The silver metallic finish is exclusively available in a single-tone option.
After coming so close to winning in 2021, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Team returned this year to take a historic 1-2 victory in the 9-hour race at the Sepang International Circuit. Three Toyotas finished in the top 5 overall positions, and in the Malaysian Touring Car (MTC) Class in only Toyota’s second year participating in the annual event.
A record total of 77 cars lined up on the grid for the 14th edition of the Sepang 1000KM event (S1K) this year. The race had the MTC and SP2 Classes for cars below 1600 cc and incorporated the GAZOO Racing Vios Enduro Cup (exclusively for the Toyota Vios cars competing in the Vios Challenge race series).
Crewed by GAZOO Racing Malaysia ambassador Tengku Djan Ley and reigning Vios Challenge Sporting Class champion Naquib Azlan, the team’s #37 Vios took the chequered flag after 181 laps. The car had started from pole position and crossed the finish line 6.2 seconds ahead of the nearest rival – the #39 Yaris of Hayden Haikal and Jwan Hii for Wing Hin Motorsports (a UMW Toyota Motor dealer).
The Toyota Yaris which was entered in the Sepang 1000KM endurance race (S1K) recently was the first ever appearance of the model in a local race and it was a ‘baptism by fire’ on all accounts. Competing in the top MTC Production Class, the Yaris, driven by the pair of 16-year old Hayden Haikal and 24-year old Timothy Yeo, had taken the chequered flag 3 laps ahead of their nearest rival. However, a post-race penalty reclassified the duo to third position in class and fourth overall.
Three Toyotas occupied the top 5 front positions on the starting grid for the 9-hour/181-lap race laps around the 5.534-km Sepang International Circuit. The number #39 Yaris had been the highest-placed Toyota on the starting grid, qualifying second with a time of 2 min 38.932 seconds. They were followed by Wing Hin Motorsports team mates and the pair of Boy Wong and Dannies Ng in the number #38 Vios.
Two entries from GAZOO Racing Malaysia
Backing them up were the trio of Tengku Djan Ley, Naquib Azlan and Akio Takeyama from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia in car number #37 (another Vios) which was fifth fastest. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia fielded a second entry, another Vios crewed by a trio comprising celebrity Zizan Razak, and young drivers Jwan Hii and Mika Hakimi in the SP2 Production Class in car number #36. Despite qualifying 30th , they went on to finish 20th in class and fifth in the inaugural running of the Vios Enduro Cup.
With three Toyotas in contention for overall victory, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s number #37 Vios, the number #39 Yaris and the number #38 Vios showed their dominance from the beginning to the final hours of the race. Four cars traded places for the lead throughout the race, but no one expected a huge turn of events that was to unfold in the closing laps.
Bad luck for #38 Vios
The number #38 Vios’ hopes of a podium finish were essentially erased due to technical issues, forcing it to rejoin 6 laps down but still managing to finish fourth overall and in Class. The number #37 Vios, meanwhile, was well poised for victory until 26 laps to the finish when the front left wheel was ripped away, dropping the team to 11th in Class.
Their misfortune left the race for the taking of car number #100 driven by Mitchell Cheah and Brendan Paul Anthony, but their hopes of a victory too came to a crushing end when mechanical problems 10 laps from the finish put them into retirement.
Yaris takes podium finish on debut
As all this unfolded, the charging #39 Yaris kept piling on the pressure and clocking consistent lap times right up to the chequered flag. “The Yaris performed impeccably, not putting a foot wrong! This is a huge testament to the car’s performance and reliability under extreme conditions, and to finish on the podium in the prestigious S1K race on its debut is, without a doubt, an amazing result,” said a happy Mr. Takeyama who is also GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer.
“We would like to have won and seen two or all three cars on the podium but unfortunately, in racing, nothing is ever certain until you cross the finish line, and this is a disappointment we will have to graciously accept despite running very competitively until the final hours,” he said.
“The S1K is a challenging test of nerves not only on the reliability and durability of the car, but also the physical and mental strength of the competing teams and drivers,” he said, with his personal experience of racing in the event. ”As a team, we have proven to ourselves that we are competitive, and this setback has certainly fuelled our desire to come back and be even stronger next year.”
The Yaris’ third place finish, however, was made that much sweeter with one of the drivers (Hayden) being a competitor and the youngest ever champion in Toyota’s Vios Challenge racing series. In fact, eight of the drivers in the top 4 cars in contention for the race win had competed in the one-make series which has run for 4 seasons.
“The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival and Vios Challenge will next year enter its fifth successive season and we hope that it has not only made a huge impact towards enhancing the profile of Malaysian motorsports by bringing it to the masses, but also in creating a strong foundation for the development of existing, new and especially young drivers. We are committed in making an impactful contribution to Malaysian motorsports and this is an initiative we intend to continue to expand on moving forward,” Mr. Takeyama promised.
Inaugural Vios Enduro Cup
In the inaugural Vios Enduro Cup, Aylezo Motorsports’ trio Mirza Syahmi Mahzan, Zen Low and Aiman Haziq completed 166 laps enroute to collect a cash prize of RM10,000. It was a 1-2 victory for Aylezo with Dato’ Danny Yip, Kenneth Teh and Chang Choon Ming placed second. In third spot was 23 Motors’ Al- Farouk and Abdull Miqail, followed by Toyotsu Racing’s Liew Jo Choon, Tan Chan Wei in fourth.
A total of 10 Toyota cars took to the track for the S1K race which attracted 38 teams, with three cars competing in the MTC Production Class and the remaining seven vying for positions in the SP2 Production Class and the inaugural running of the Vios Enduro Cup.
I would be lying if I said I was not excited about driving the GR Yaris.
“You go la bro, do a written and video review of the drive experience,” said Chips in our Piston/BikesRepublic/MotoMalaya Whatsapp group chat.
I saved the formalities, thanked Chips and dove right in. There was no, “are you sure, bro?”
I love my colleagues, but I love the cars more. There was no way was I going to say no to driving what is arguably the 10 most interesting drivers cars of the past decade. Or maybe 20.
The invite said to be there by 8, the sheer excitement woke me up by 530. I got there by 820. Traffic was bad.
After all the formalities, hellos and a quick breakfast, there it was, the car that had dominated the news for a while, and was deemed as the most exciting hot hatch in a while, and I was unimpressed. I found myself thinking, “damn, it is rather small and unassuming.”
It really is small. Tiny almost. Almost the size of a Mini Cooper 3-door. But wider. Which is not a bad thing. Some of the greatest cars are all short, wide and low. That’s the basics of a great hot hatch. Think Renault Clio V6.
But sit inside and it feels comfortable, with an almost family sort of friendliness to it; the type that feels like you could drive it all day and then some.
And despite all that, there was an aura in the air inside the GR Yaris that set the purpose straight. Telling whoever it is that sits in it that it was something special. This was not a regular Toyota and you could feel it.
Perhaps it was the data logger lookalike head unit that dominated the central dashboard. Or perhaps it was the very obvious focus of the 6-speed manual with an aluminium shifter. Or perhaps it was the plastic laminated sticker that read out the car’s purpose in life – ‘Developed For FIA World Rally Championship’. But the biggest giveaway to the purpose of this Yaris was in its name – Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris.
“I sat in one of those things,” says my cousin Miki the day after my drive at Sepang.
I drove the Yaris from London to Cardiff, and it was horrid,” he said.
“Yes, but I bet it wasn’t the GR Yaris,” was my answer.
“Of course not, I heard those things are quite special,” was his answer.
He could not be more right. The GR Yaris truly is special. It is also a Frankenstein of sorts as it is the combination of a Toyota Yaris front and a Toyota Corolla back. Hence why it looks so wide at the back, because it is all-wheel-drive, and the wider track helps it go rallying. A perfect canvas for Tommi Makinen’s Toyota GR Rally team to develop a world dominator.
But there is little point in going further here, even if I were to wax lyrical about how much fun the car is to drive, which it really is, on track at least because I haven’t driven it on road – the fact of the matter is that you cannot buy a Toyota GR Yaris anymore. Not a brand new unit in Malaysia at least.
UMW Toyota Malaysia offered only 125 units of the GR Yaris to the Malaysian public, and all of them have been spoken for.
I did question the need to write this article before starting, since you won’t be able to buy it brand new here anyway. But the car is undoubtedly amazing, and deserves an article of its own.
And I totally understand the demand for it, I want one too. I can’t remember the last time I drove something that made me want to do some very illegal things with it. Every couple of years, a manufacturer will release something truly special that will blow away even the most dedicated of passionists – the GR Yaris is one of them.
Visually though there is nothing special about the car – inside or outside.
The uninitiated could easily be fooled into thinking it were a custom Myvi with a wide body kit which had spent time at the chop shop to get rid of the two back doors.
It really isn’t visually impressive. It won’t make your children squeal in delight when they see one, it will make your wife question her marriage to you should you spend over a quarter of a million ringgit in a car the size of a Myvi. It won’t get you the girls.
It will however get you lots of questions from fanboys. Myvi’s will want to race you, the Type R boys will “cucuk” you every chance they get. And the AMG and Golf R boys will have a laugh smoking you.
But that’s okay though, because as soon as you hit the corners, you will have the last laugh, because in the corners is where this Yaris becomes at one with its element.
In fact I dare say that in tight corners and in the right hands, this Yaris will “re-smoke” the AMG and Golf R. Such is its talent and capabilities, but a short wheel-base all-wheel-drive car will always need some experienced, talented hands that know what to do in case things get hairy. And things will get hairy very quickly.
The all-wheel drive system is intelligent, in normal mode, it sends 60% of power to the front wheels, while in track mode it sends 50% of the power to the rear for perfect power distribution, and in sport mode it sends 70% of power to the back wheels, making it a tiny tail happy car.
We did get a chance to feel this layout for ourselves, the sport mode around the gymkhana track which was set up to initiate a slide – a 360 degree donut drift, a slalom course then into a high speed gets the tail out if you pull the handbrake hard enough. Onto another slalom then hard on the brakes.
It was in the track mode that really made me realise that there are certain limitations to the car. Brake hard into a slow corner like turns one, four, nine and 15 of the Sepang Circuit and the rear will threaten to break loose. In fast corners especially turns five and six you have to modulate the pedal and even then there is this niggling sensation that the back just wants to break free.
Power is from a three-cylinder, 1.6 turbocharged engine. It puts out 261PS and 360km/h. Get the shifts right and this Yaris will reach 100km/h in just 5.5 seconds. Top speed is rated at 230km/h.
But it is not how much power it puts out, it’s how it feels doing it.
Floor the pedal and there is no roar or scream that follows the acceleration. It is more of a “whoosh” of the turbocharger. Did you really expect a three-cylinder engine to scream?
I am not mocking the engine here. What Toyota has achieved with a three pot engine makes it the most power three-cylinder engine in the world. Ever! Read that sentence again, perhaps then we can truly appreciate the magnificence of this small car.
Then there is the fact this Yaris is in fact a homologation special – meaning that it was bred for racing. Rallying, to be more accurate.
Toyota built 25,000 units of the GR Yaris, because the rules of homologation says a manufacturer needs to build 25,000 units of a model, and it goes on to say that 2,500 of those can be high performance variants as well. Which suggests that rumours around Toyota building a more hardcore version of the GR Yaris may actually be true. Hello GRMN!
There is no doubt that the Toyota GR Yaris is a special car to drive, though it may not look like it to the untrained eye. This is a car that needs to be driven to be appreciated, and those that know, they know.
My biggest gripe with this car? That UMW Toyota Motor is not able to offer more units than the 125 already sold. That more people are not able to enjoy such a fantastic machine. This is a car that could potentially define a generation, a legend like the Golf GTI and the Renault Megane. And unfortunately enthusiasts will have to turn to the grey import market to buy it, robbing them of official Toyota after sales support.
There is also word from friends who have booked the GR Yaris that their bookings are a money making tool now. Some are getting random phone calls offering to buy their booking for double the booking fee paid. Demand is so hot that at the point of writing, the GR Yaris offers better return on investment than any form of investment type, be it properties, gold, petroleum or energy stock.
A great car it is, one of the modern legends, but it remains to be seen how that three-cylinder engine deals with all that abuse.
And if your wife threatens to leave you because you spent a quarter of a million ringgit on a car that looks like a Myvi, tell her that it is a better investment than the jewellery she forced you to buy her. For now at least.
Last year, the European Car of the Year (COTY) awards ceremony – traditionally held at the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) – was unable to be held as the event was cancelled at the last moment due to government concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. The Swiss banned any event with more than 1,000 people to prevent spread of the coronavirus.
This year, the GIMS still could not be held but the organisers of the oldest Car of the Year awards – run annually since 1964 – decided to still hold the event at its traditional venue even though no motorshow was on (there is one planned for 2022). But there was no audience present and the event was broadcast live online to the whole world this afternoon in Geneva.
A 59-member jury, made up of automotive journalists from 22 countries, selected the winners from 7 models that were the finalists. The nominees are models sold in at least 5 European countries with an expected annual volume of 5,000 units. Technical innovation and value for money are said to be particularly important factors in this annual contest.
This year, the 7 finalists were the Citroen C4, CUPRA Formentor, Fiat New 500, Land Rover Defender, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Yaris and the all-electric Volkswagen ID.3.
And this year, the European-built Toyota Yaris is the Car of the Year. It’s the second COTY award (the first being in 2000) for the Yaris which was originally designed for Europe. Not many Japanese brands have had winners in the COTY and this is Toyota’s third time taking home an award.
The European Yaris is not the same one as that assembled and sold in Malaysia by UMW Toyota Motor. However, it is similar to the GR Yaris, which is a ‘homologation special‘ that is ready for competition use, especially rallying.
For those who are starting their journey into the working world after graduation, having personal transport might be something they have been looking forward to. To help graduates acquire a new car,
UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT), in collaboration with Maybank Islamic Berhad, has a special financing package just for graduates who wish to purchase a new Toyota Vios, Yaris or Avanza.
The Murabahah Vehicle Term Financing-i (MVTF-i), in accordance with the Murabahah principles, will provide an additional financing option to the graduates besides the Islamic Hire-Purchase (HP) financing in accordance with Al Ijarah Thumma Al-Bai (AITAB). This financing package is only available in Peninsular Malaysia.
Murabahah financing also follows Islamic financing principles and the combined amount financed can be up to 100% with takaful contribution of Takaful bundling and other costs (legal costs, stamp duty, etc).
“At UMW Toyota Motor, we are always looking for the best ways to work with our business partners for our customers to own a brand new Toyota vehicle. With this new financing package, graduates will be able to acquire a Toyota Vios, Yaris or Avanza as the financing package helps to make the downpayment more affordable. The support we offer will also make the ownership experience enjoyable for many years to come,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.
The financing is available to graduates (degree-holders) who are aged between 21 and 30 years old and are currently employed. They should be earning at least RM3,000 a month and have been employed for a minimum of 6 months. For those with less than 6 months of employment, their parents can act as guarantors (subject to Terms & Conditions).
Should their income be less than RM3,000 but more than RM2,000, it is still possible to apply for the financing package provided their parents (as guarantors) have a household income of RM5,000 or more.
Full aftersales support is available from the network of authorised Toyota service centres nationwide.
The Toyota Vios, Yaris and Avanza are among the best-selling models in the non-national segment in the Malaysian market. With their compact size, ease of driving, economical performance from 1.5-litre engines, and low cost of maintenance, they would be ideal for those who are just starting out in the working world.
Features such as the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and of course standard items like airbags and ABS ensure that safety aspects are covered.
For peace of mind, the Manufacturer’s Warranty is 5 years and as there is no limit on mileage travelled, this means that warranty coverage is for the full period of time. Additionally, if insurance coverage is purchased from UMW Toyota Motor’s authorized dealers, owners receive free membership to 24SEVEN Road Assist breakdown and emergency service assistance available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Authorized Toyota dealers nationwide can provide more information or visit the Toyota Malaysia website at Toyota.com.my.
Click here for other news and articles about Toyota.
Virtually all industries and businesses in Malaysia suspended operations on May 18 as the Movement Control Order (MCO) started, a measure to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.With the situation improving, the government is allowing resumption of operations of most industries.
Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB), UMW Toyota Motor’s subsidiary involved in manufacturing Toyota vehicles, is among those that has resumed its assembly operations. It has two assembly plants in Selangor and the newer one at the Bukit Raja Industrial Park commences today. This plant assembles the popular Vios and Yaris models and has been in operation since January 2019. The second plant in Shah Alam, among the oldest in Malaysia, will commence operations on June 9, 2020.
The ASSB plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor which assembles the Yaris and Vios models.
“We are grateful to the Selangor State Government for its decision to implement the CMCO with customised details and understand that it is in the best interest of the state and people,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor. “With the resumption of operations, we hope to help in boosting the economy and add momentum to the automotive industry and business moving forward.”
As with all companies allowed to resume their operations at full capacity, there are strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which must be followed. ASSB will fully adhere to these SOPs for the protection and health of the approximately 2,000 employees working at its facilities.
The SOPs include establishing distances of 1 metre or more between workers; regular temperature checks; provision and use of hand sanitizers and face masks; and sanitization of various areas around the plant three times daily. Where necessary, working hours and work flows are adjusted to create a safe environment.
“Toyota Motor Corporation is also very serious about providing safe and healthy conditions for all employees. As a member of the global Toyota family, ASSB can therefore draw on healthcare advice and best practices from TMC regarding additional measures that can be taken here in Selangor,” added Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.
Following on from the recent launch of the new 4th generation Toyota Harrier, the carmaker today debuted the Yaris Cross. Originally planned to be unveiled at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show which was cancelled, the Yaris Cross will have its sales launch in Japan during the fourth quarter of this year and in Europe by the middle of 2021.
With ‘Cross’ as part of its name, the image which Toyota wants this Yaris variant to have is clear – a more rugged SUV off-roader (though not for serious stuff, of course). Standing taller the Yaris with the requisite extra ground clearance (+30 mm), it sits on the TNGA platform (GA-B) for compact models. The wheelbase of 2560 mm is the same as the hatchback but is 240 mm longer at 4.18 metres, 20 mm wider and 90 mm higher.
The overall exterior styling follows the Yaris but has influence from the RAV4 too, along with the new Harrier. SUV-type elements like dark cladding on the sides and squared-off wheelarches are given emphasis so the Yaris Cross fits right into the Toyota range of SUVs.
For the exterior colour, designers at Toyota’s European studio (which was involved in the development) wanted to express ‘an active and high-quality image’ that target customers would really appreciate.
Looking at future colour trends, they saw a growing tendency for gold and other precious metals, but there was also a desire for something a bit more natural and urban. Adding a subtle hint of green to the gold direction, whilst also desaturating the colour to emphasise the metal-like appearance, gave a fresh urban yet active appeal. The final result is a colour called Brass Gold which is seen on the car in all the images.
Two powertrain options
Depending on the market, two powertrain options will be available – a 1.5-litre Dynamic Force petrol engine or a hybrid with a similar engine. Toyota’s hybrid system is already in its fourth generation since being introduced in the late 1990s.
The Yaris and Yaris Cross are the first models to use Toyota’s latest 1.5 hybrid system, developed directly from the larger 2.0 and 2.5-litre powertrains used by recent new models such as the Corolla, C-HR, RAV4 and Camry. This features a new 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine, precision-engineered to reduce friction and mechanical losses and optimise combustion speed.
The engine’s thermal efficiency is rated at 40%, greater than comparable diesel engines and ensures strong fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. Total system output from the hybrid system is 116 ps and special attention has been given to power delivery to deliver responsiveness.
All-wheel drive available
Most manufacturers have been opting for just front-wheel drive for compact SUVs but Toyota offers its intelligent all-wheel drive system (AWD-i) as well, which should give it an extra selling point in the very competitive segment.
AWD-i is said to provide extra stability and traction in everyday driving, in poor conditions and on low-grip surfaces. An electric system, it is more compact and weighs less than mechanical AWD units. The system directs drive torque to the rear axle when pulling away and when accelerating. In normal driving, the Yaris Cross operates with FWD but when low-grip conditions are detected, AWD drive is engaged automatically.
As this is just an unveiling, Toyota has given limited information on the new model. It will be produced in Japan as well as Europe. In terms of positioning, it will take its place below the C-HR as the brand’s first B-segment SUV.
UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has initiated a Special Service Campaign (SSC) to replace the airbag inflator module components of certain Toyota models sold by the company. The vehicles involved in this campaign were subjected to a previous Takata airbag inflator module recall and repaired between 2014 and 2019. At that time, a certain number of vehicles were replaced with non-desiccated airbag inflators modules produced by Takata but for this new SSC, those airbag inflator modules will be replaced with one that has improved components.
Approximately 41,000 Toyota vehicles
UMWT says there are approximately 41,000 Toyota vehicles manufactured from 2001 to 2013 involved. These are the Toyota Vios produced from May 2003 to August 2007, and September 2007 to July 2013; Toyota Corolla Altis produced from July 2001 to July 2007; Toyota Camry produced from June 2002 to December 2005; and Toyota Yaris produced from January 2006 to August 2007.
(Above and below) The models being recalled for the Special Service Campaign
In accordance with standard practice, the company will notify all affected vehicle owners officially and perform the necessary replacement at no charge to the owners. In the event that you believe your vehicle to be affected but have not received any notification, you can visit Toyota’s Special Service Campaign webpage to check using the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Checker. To those who have uploaded the Toyota Drive Apps, there is also a link to Toyota’s SSC page and the VIN Checker. Information on other vital SSCs is also available on the webpage.
Further information can also be obtained from any authorised Toyota service centre or by calling the Toyota Freephone at 1-800-8-TOYOTA (869682).
Last week, we had the opportunity to test out the all-new 2019 Toyota Yaris. UMW Toyota Sdn Bhd (UMWT) organised a media drive for fellow Malaysian motoring journalists and during the day trip to Bentong, Pahang, we not only got a taste of the latest-generation Yaris but also how surprisingly good it performed overall. (more…)
