Toyota has unveiled the “evolved” or updated version of the Toyota GR Yaris and the popular hot hatch is now available with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Among the many other updates, another significant improvement to the GR Yaris is its increased power and torque outputs.
Let’s dive straight into this newly developed transmission. It is called the Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission and it was developed with inputs from the TGR World Rally team that put it through various rally courses. It was also put through the test in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Rally Challenge.
Toyota says that the new automatic transmission has been optimized for sporty driving and that it senses and adapts to the way the driver steps on the brakes and accelerator. Thus it anticipates when gear shifting is necessary, even before changes in vehicle behavior occur.
The Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic transmission uses highly heat-resistant friction material which results in “world-class gear shifting speeds”. It uses close-ratio gears (thanks to the higher number of available gears) to make the most of the engine’s power band.
Paired with the transmission is still a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, albeit with refined output and torque. Maximum power is now rated at 304 hp (metric), which is a significant bump from the previous iteration’s 272 hp (metric). Torque is now up at 400 Nm from the previous 370 Nm.
Naturally with the update, the exterior design of the Toyota GR Yars has also been refreshed. There’s a new front bumper. The sides of the lower part of the front bumper have a new separable structure that makes restoration and replacement easier. The front bumper side vents are also larger than before.
An opening at the lower edge of the rear lower garnish allows air from under the floor to escape, reducing aerodynamic drag and improving maneuverability and stability, as well as exhausting heat from the muffler. The tail lamp sports a new continuous design and it has been consolidated to avoid damage and improve visibility while competing in motorsports.
The body improvements are not just skin deep as the chassis of the GR Yaris has also been reinforced. There are more fastening bolts that hold the body to the shock absorbers and this has improved responsiveness. There are also more spot welds and this improves handling stability and ride comfort.
Aside from those updates, the GR Yaris also gets a new optional “cooling package” and a new standard “Drive Mode Select” and “Circuit Mode”. The manual GR Yaris gets a new vertical handbrake that “takes competing in motorsports into consideration”.
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