Evolved GR Yaris debuts at Tokyo Auto Salon 2024

TOYOTA Gazoo Racing (TGR) unveiled the highly anticipated evolved GR Yaris at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2024, marking a significant milestone in the world of motorsports. Scheduled to hit the Japanese market this second quarter, the new GR Yaris promises to deliver an enhanced driving experience.

Since the debut of the GR Yaris, TGR has actively engaged in various motorsports, adopting a “driver-first car-making” approach through rigorous testing and feedback from professional race drivers, evaluation drivers, and Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Akio Toyoda, also known as Morizo.

This time, under the slogan “Thanks for breaking it,” acknowledging the drivers who pushed the vehicle to its limits, TGR incorporated driver feedback not only in the power unit but also in the body, interior, exterior, and other aspects to comprehensively enhance vehicle performance.

In line with Morizo’s vision of making driving enjoyment accessible to a wider audience and expanding the motorsports base, the GR Yaris lineup now includes the 8-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission. This new transmission aims to allow a broad spectrum of drivers to experience sporty driving and participate in races with an automatic transmission that matches the performance of manual transmissions.

Recognizing the pivotal role of the cockpit in delivering high-level driving performance, TGR collaborated with professional race drivers to create an ideal sports car cockpit. Adjustments to the driving position and a 15-degree tilt of the control panel and display toward the driver, inspired by Super Taikyu Series and Japanese Rally Championship race cars, enhance visibility and operability. Switches have been strategically positioned for ease of use even when the driver is harnessed to the seat.

As a symbol of TGR’s car-making, the GR Yaris, born from motorsports expertise, has been continually refined through competition since its launch in September 2020. The slogan “Thanks for breaking it” reflects TGR’s commitment to constant improvement, addressing issues in extreme race conditions through data analysis, steering feel adjustments, and scrutiny of damaged parts.

Aligned with Morizo’s goal of making driving fun and expanding the motorsports scope, TGR developed the 8-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission. This allows drivers to maximize enjoyment with the 1.6-liter inline 3-cylinder turbo engine and a four-wheel drive drivetrain, the essence of the GR Yaris. The outcome is a car designed to cater to a diverse range of drivers, enabling them to enjoy sporty driving and full participation in motorsports.

TGR’s journey of refining motorsports-bred cars continues, with plans to compete in races using the GR Yaris and incorporating input from diverse drivers for further evolution.