Toyota presents a new edition of the GR Yaris, the compact sports car designed for competition and that represents a line of automobiles with an increasingly uncertain future. Fortunately, for serious sports car fans, it’s not all electric cars, hybrids or SUVs; There is the GR Yaris.

The strategy of Toyota Gazoo Racing, the competition department of the Japanese brand, made possible in 2020 the development of an exciting car, dedicated almost exclusively to competition lovers, to the most demanding motorists in terms of technology and performance.

Now, an improved edition arrives, with more power, an even more rigid chassis and permanent all-wheel drive with new driver-selectable driving modes. That is, we are not talking about a normal Yaris but rather a sports car for the road developed directly from Toyota’s winning experience in the World Rally Championship (WRC).

A car with a radical character in which Toyota “prioritizes the driver”, and that allows you to enjoy the experience from the moment you sit behind the wheel and start the engine.

Since its launch in 2020, more than 18,000 units have been sold in Europe. And the majority of sales correspond to the Circuit Pack version, which in Spain has an extra price of 5,000 euros. The Circuit Pack version includes high-performance tires and special lightened rims.

The price of the GR Yaris RZ, the standard version, is 38,250 euros and the first units will reach our market in summer. Toyota’s merit is that the GR Yaris transcends categorization and creates a class of its own, becoming a cult car from the first moment.

When it appeared, the GR Yaris engine was the most powerful three-cylinder in the world. It now reaches 280 HP and 390 Nm of maximum torque, which are still record values ??for such a modest engine and such a light car.

The introduction of the new eight-speed Gazoo Racing Direct automatic transmission is another of the significant new features of the new GR Yaris, and is offered as an alternative to the already well-known six-speed manual gearbox.

The automatic transmission also allows the driver to focus more on the steering wheel and the use of the brake and accelerator pedals. When going from six to eight gears, the transmission has closer relationships. It also has a new torque control system.

The car has a new driving mode selection function to adapt the vehicle to both sports driving and everyday use. Thus, the Sport, Normal and Eco modes apply different settings for the electric power steering, air conditioning operation, accelerator response and the driver’s dashboard display.

On models equipped with the Gazoo Racing Direct automatic transmission, gear shift feel and selection are also adjusted. In Sport mode, the shift feel is response-oriented, while in Normal and Eco modes, a greater balance between comfort and response is sought. On the other hand, in Sport mode, the response in position D is prioritized, while with M the gear change is achieved faster.

As with the current model, the GR-Four permanent all-wheel drive system achieves an optimal level of grip and traction. This system, developed specifically for the vehicle, adjusts the balance between the traction of the front and rear wheels in three modes adapted to driving: Normal, Sport and Track.

To give the driver a truly sporty feeling when behind the wheel, some controls used in competition have been brought closer to the driver for quick and intuitive access: intercooler spray, stability control deactivation or hazard lights.

And the pilot’s field of vision has also been expanded to increase safety. Likewise, the instrumentation includes a new 12.3-inch fully digital gauge cluster with two different modes: normal and sport. The sports car offers a data visualization focused on sports performance.

In the automatic model, for example, the reading includes the transmission oil temperature and a visual warning, as well as an acoustic alarm, to alert the driver when the engine speed is too high to downshift.

In terms of equipment, the latest generation Toyota Safety Sense systems, navigation and a digital key stand out. The model with automatic transmission will offer a higher specification, with forged wheels, a rear and side camera and a premium JBL sound system.

On the other hand, Toyota produces special editions of the new GR Yaris named after two of its World Rally Championship (WRC) drivers. The Sébastien Ogier special edition and the Kalle Rovanperä special edition are based on prototypes exhibited at the recently held Tokyo Motor Show.

These editions can be seen in action at the Monte Carlo Rally, the first race of this year’s FIA WRC, which takes place from January 25 to 28.