Auto option coming for Toyota GR Yaris

TOYOTA has announced an exciting upgrade for its hard-charging GR Yaris at the Tokyo Auto Salon this week, upping the power and torque, revising the cockpit layout, and introducing an eight-speed DirectShift automatic transmission.

Previously offered only with a six-speed manual gearbox, the GR Yaris will now offer what Toyota says is “broader appeal for driving enthusiasts”, adding that the transmission has been developed through “hardcore use in professional motorsport”.

Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team drivers put the transmission through its paces on a range of road surfaces, including those encountered in the Japanese Rally Championship and Toyota Gazoo Racing Challenge under the ethos of “breaking and fixing” to “make the transmission as durable and reliable as possible”.

According to Toyota, the new transmission’s control software has been optimised for dynamic driving, “delicately sensing the driver’s operation of the accelerator and brakes to anticipate gear shifts” and providing “incredibly fast and intuitive shifting”.

The 8AT has been constructed using highly-heat-resistant friction material in the clutch and features close gear ratios to make the most of the engine’s enhanced power band.

Complementing the introduction of the automatic transmission is an increase in power and torque for the three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, the 1.6-litre unit now offering 224kW at 6500rpm (+24kW) and 400Nm from 3250-4600rpm (+30Nm) – irrespective of which transmission is selected.

Power continues to drive all four wheels via a selectable torque distribution system featuring a new drive mode selection system Toyota says, “adjust the electronic power steering, air-conditioning, and powertrain settings in accordance with user preferences”.

Minor enhancements have been made to the visual appearance of the Toyota GR Yaris inside and out, including the canting of the dashboard and infotainment array toward the driver by 15 degrees to aid operability.

Toyota says it has also enhanced the safety of the GR Yaris with additional active safety features and Toyota Connected Services for greater occupant protection.

More details will be announced closer to the model’s Australian launch in the second half of 2024.