TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) introduces a new evolution of the GR Yaris, which represents an intention to continuously evolve the performance hatchback by incorporating driver input acquired through its ongoing motorsports participation.
The creation of the GR Yaris benefited from knowledge and technology gained through TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s multi title-winning FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) team, thereby strongly expressing TGR’s philosophy of making ever-better cars through motorsports.
Since the model’s 2020 launch, motorsports participation has driven a constant enhancement of the GR Yaris, which has been pushed to its limits in the extreme environment of rallying and racing, where problems are thoroughly pursued, by analysing driving data, reviewing steering feel and examining damaged parts in detail.
Insights gained by participating in competitions such as Super Taikyu and the Japanese Rally Championship were incorporated into development of the evolved GR Yaris, which elevates driving performance, strengthens the connection between driver and car, and further amplifies the GR Yaris fun-to-drive sensation.
Performance of the eight-speed GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission, which delivers competition-standard rapid shifting, has been further optimised by detailed improvements to gear selection control, mainly during sporty driving. To enhance the two-pedal driving experience, the footrest has also been enlarged.
An evolved sense of ‘oneness’ with the car is generated by improving steering response and straight-line stability, using special bolts with higher fastening rigidity.
A wider bolt head connects rear suspension members to the body, while the bolts fastening the front lower suspension arms and lower ball joints, as well as the rear shock absorbers and body, have a new ribbed flange. Suspension settings have been adjusted to accommodate those changes, as well as the increased torque used to tighten some of the conventional bolts.
Shock absorber damping force has also been modified to achieve both control and ride comfort, while the electric power steering has been tuned through repeated improvements.
The contribution of professional race driver Kazuya Oshima has helped to improve steering feel and generate the sensation of a 1:1 relationship between steering wheel input and wheel response.
Meanwhile, the optional vertical handbrake which utilises insights gained from competing in the WRC, Japanese Rally Championship and other series, will now be available for both manual and automatic transmissions, starting with this evolved GR Yaris.
The evolved GR Yaris is available to order now in Europe.