Insider: Toyota Rush GR Sport coming to PH

Yesterday, Toyota Motor Philippines officially confirmed that they will be launching the all-new Veloz next week. Set to be revealed on April 29, Toyota says the Veloz will serve as the brand's latest subcompact 7-seater SUV and will combine stylish looks and performance.

Along with the recently-launched Avanza, Toyota is pulling out all the stops to dominate the 7-seater MPV/SUV market. But where does the Toyota Rush fit into all of this? First launched back in 2018, the Rush originally served as the SUV version of the previous-generation Avanza. But with the Avanza and Veloz now being platform brothers, does this mean the Rush is on the way out?

Thanks to insider information, that will not be the case. In fact, our well-placed source recently shared with us that the Rush will get the Gazoo Racing Sport (GR-S) treatment. That's right, the 7-seater SUV is all set to get some GR Sport goodies.

While exact specifications are not yet available, we won't be surprised if it will look similar to the one launched by Toyota Indonesia last year. After all, that's where the automaker sources the Rush, along with the Avanza and upcoming Veloz.

If we are to base it on the Indonesian spec of the Rush GR Sport, it will have a similar design as the TRD Sportivo we used to have. From the distinct grille, sporty front and rear bumpers, GR emblems, and GR-branded door sills, the Rush gets a sporty makeover.

Not only that, but the Rush GR-S will also get a unique two-tone interior, black fabric seats, an upgraded touchscreen infotainment system, GR Sport branded headrests, GR Sport floor mats, and even a GR Sport push-button start.

Like before, the Rush GR-S comes with a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated Dual VVT-i inline-four that drives the rear wheels. It puts out 104 PS with 136 Nm of torque and is available with either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual.

No exact launch dates have been revealed yet. However, our insider mentioned that the Rush 1.5 GR-S will replace the regular 1.5 G. This means the GR-S variant will soon serve as the new top-of-the-line Rush model for the Philippines. More importantly, the GR Sport kit will be available as a dealer accessory - meaning customers can dress up their regular Rush units to get the GR Sport look. There is no word if the 1.5 E variants will be carried over, however.

Once TMP officially reveals the Rush GR-S, will you get it over the Avanza or Veloz? Let us know in the comments.