Toyota is currently investigating the introduction of a new Gazoo Racing (GR) Parts scheme that would allow South Africans to customize their vehicles with a set of sporty credentials.
This follows the announcement that the automaker is establishing what it calls the “GR Pyramid” consisting of four different tiers relating to its racing sub-division.
GR Parts is the first tier in this hierarchy, “allowing customers to inject their normal model variant with GR flavour,” according to the manufacturer.
GR Parts in South Africa
Toyota South Africa will soon be running trials for the introduction of special GR Parts in the country, the company told TopAuto.
The automaker is currently awaiting the arrival of several prototype GR body kits, whereupon it will begin with trial fitment, it said.
These prototype body kits will be for the three existing GR models – the GR Yaris, GR Supra, and the upcoming GR86.
“No concrete decisions on parts line-up has been made as the above trial is the first step,” said Toyota.
However, it was confirmed that the company is investigating other plans regarding the GR rollout in South Africa, including the introduction of bespoke GR Centres within select dealerships around the country.
These will draw on the GR Parts catalogue and provide GR-specific merchandise, servicing, parts sales, and support, said the manufacturer.
Toyota’s current GR catalogue
The Japanese carmaker has been steadily increasing the number of models in South Africa that bear the GR logo in some form.
This includes the aforementioned likes of the GR Yaris, GR Supra, and GR86, as well as the upcoming GR Corolla, all of which form the third tier in the Gazoo Racing pyramid.
More recently though, Toyota has been revealing new sporty derivatives of its everyday models, all bearing a GR-Sport designation, including the Corolla Cross, Toyota Hilux, and Land Cruiser 300.
These models, which form the second tier of the pyramid, represent a more affordable entry into the GR family of vehicles over the high-performance units found in tier three, as the GR upgrade usually consists of additional cosmetics and handling improvements.
However, one exception is the new Hilux GR-Sport, which also received a performance improvement with 15kW and 50Nm added to its total output.
GR Parts will effectively allow customers to take this process into their own hands, letting local motorists add components to their existing vehicles to give them an added visual flair over the standard design.
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