Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch costs an eye-watering sum in France

The 2024 Toyota GR Yaris now has a supercar-like price to match its hot-hatch performance after controversial 2024 emissions tariffs have more than doubled its price in France.

Order books for the updated GR Yaris have opened in France, with an automatic version available for the first time – priced at an eye-watering $AU180,000, with buyers forking out more in taxes than the Toyota’s list price.

The staggering increase is the result of controversial new emissions tariffs introduced in France from 1 January 2024, designed to encourage motorists into electric vehicles.

French dealers will charge a staggering $AU152,000 for the six-speed manual GR Yaris, with a limited run of 300 cars delivered to customers by the end of 2024.

In Australia, $180,000 can easily buy a Porsche Cayman S or its convertible sibling, the Porsche Boxster S – which are both around $165,000 before on-road costs.

It is also comparable to the cost of the 2024 BMW M3 Competition sedan ($177,800) or wagon ($180,100) in Australia.

The scheme taxes new vehicles emitting more than 193g/km of CO2 based on their Worldwide Light Harmonized Test Protocol (WLTP) emission figure – with an automatic €60,000 ($AU99,000) surcharge added at the point of sale.

The 190g/km rating of the manual Yaris GR adds €45,990 ($AU76,000) to the list price of €46,300 ($AU76,500) for its €92,290 ($AU152,000) total.

The tariffs were introduced to ensure France met the European Union’s 2030 target of a 50 per cent reduction in CO2 figures compared to 1990 levels.

France has already achieved a 25 per cent reduction on 1990 CO2 figures, with President Emmanuel Macron reiterating in late 2023 his goal of making France one of the first major countries to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered cars.