Toyota has added a sporty GR Sport model as part of the vehicle’s mid-life refresh after it first entered the market 2016.
From the outside, the GR Sport (for Gazoo Racing Sport) has the sport brand’s dark treatment, including blacked out headlamps and a black emblem. There is piano black finish to the centre bumper and fog lamp surroundings, a dark chrome grille and a more aggressive front spoiler.
Other exterior changes include piano black door moulding inserts and larger 19” alloy wheels. The black colour theme runs through to the back with a black emblem background, piano black reflector surroundings, a bespoke under-bumper trim garnish and to round things off, the GR SPORT logo.
The GR Sport is available in nine bi-tone colour schemes, including a new, model-unique Dynamic Grey finish with a black roof.
Open the door and this model features a new cool silver cabin finish and a choice of alcantara-trimmed leather or all-fabric seat upholstery, both enhanced by a GR-inspired Red and Grey stitching theme.
Further bespoke elements include a perforated leather steering wheel rim, red stitching accents to both the wheel rim and the gear lever, model unique scuff plates, the GR Sport logo, a GR stop/start button and a GR start-up animation in the driver's instrument binnacle TFT screen.
The GR Sport boasts privacy glass, smart entry, LED high beam headlamps and auto-fold door mirrors, whilst the main options list includes power operation and heating to the front seats and an JBL audio system.
What the eye cannot see but you can feel it once you open the taps on the road, is a sportier reaction in terms of handling. This is the result of the model-bespoke tyres and suspension system and steering that have been designed to perceptibly improve the GR Sport’s dynamic behaviour whilst retaining the ride comfort levels of the rest of the C-HR model range.
Toyota says the new 19" Continental Premium Contact 6 (225/45) increases front axle grip levels and cornering stiffness, resulting in improved yaw resistance and less understeer when subjected to the same G-force. The new tyre is lighter than the current 18" fitting yet offers the same rolling resistance and similar vehicle CO2 emissions.
Toyota South Africa is still mum about the introduction of the C-HR GR Sport onto the local market.
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A light on my car’s dashboard came on, and instead of fixing the problem, I waited for the bulb to burn out. Crisis solved.
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