Today the new 2024 Toyota GR Yaris makes its debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon and my goodness are we excited!
Considering the previous GR Yaris was such a big hit in the UK, we expect this one to be the same. Toyota does say that unit numbers will be limited and potential customers will be able to apply for a purchase slots this March however, don’t be alarmed as if its anything like the new GR86, unit numbers won’t be defined by the start and 2nd/3rd production rounds may become available.
Anyway, moving on to the important bits and having looked at the photo’s and some of the new specification changes, this Yaris really is a step up from the last!
One of the key differences we noticed (apart from the obvious) were the interior changes and specifically, the 6-speed manual gearbox being changed to an 8-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Transmission. Is this a good move? well… having spoken to owners of the previous generation through SwapAuto, we’ve been informed that this was one of the down sides to the previous generation. Although it provides authenticity and feel, the gearbox wasn’t fantastic and as its supposed to be daily drivable, sitting in traffic with a manual shifter can get very old, very quickly.
That being said, the question is… will the new transmission take away the fun from the previous Gen? Well, Gazoo Racing have stated that the reason they brought in an 8-speed was to actually shorten the gear rations to allow for increased torque consistency throughout acceleration and quicker lap times so we’re hoping not.
As for infotainment, it seems like the over hall was welcomed with open arms. Now we’re not saying that last years model was outdated but, it wasn’t exactly the most aesthetically pleasing or intuitive. The use of large screens and a digital dash really puts the car in the price bracket its in and provides that premium feel it once lacked.
Lets talk performance.
The previous Gen GR Yaris’ turbocharged engine had the distinction of being the world’s most powerful three-cylinder production unit. Gazoo have now taken it to the next level with a horsepower increase and an additional 30Nm of torque; maximum figures have risen to 276bhp/280 DIN hp and 390Nm.
This new benchmark in performance reaffirms the car’s supremacy in its class, increasing its advantage over the competition and delivering an authentic race car feel that reaffirms how Toyota has realised its ambition to build a rally car for the road.
Speaking of which, road going rally cars have always had a key requirement; reliability and durability. Toyota is synonymous for having cars that last a lifetime but in this case Toyota really took the new Yaris and its parts to the proving ground. Having given it a proper breakthrough on the Japan Rally Championship and Japanese Endurance Race Series, everything has been rigorously tested.
Specification
Optional extra’s on the new cars haven’t been specified yet however, we can expect the usual ‘Circuit pack’ and various Gazoo racing trims and colours. As like previous GR models, a lot of the extra’s come included with the standard vehicle variant but customisation is minimal and we can’t see this one being any different.
From an observers perspective, the new 2024 Toyota GR Yaris does look like an incredible bit of kit and will be loved by many around the world. Whether it warrants its hefty price tag against what else is available in this bracket we’re still unsure about but, boy are we excited to see the WRC lovers take there’s to the streets when they get them!
Fancy your own GR Yaris? Check out what’s available on SwapAuto!
