Mechanics of the Toyota GR Yaris 2024
The engine itself is the one we already knew, the 1.6 turbo G16E-GTS three-cylinder, but instead of 261 horsepower it now delivers 280 horsepower according to official figures and its torque also increases from 360 to 390 Nm – in the GR Corolla the propeller gave 370 Nm, as a reference. The valves have been reinforced, the fuel injection pressure has been increased, it has new lighter pistons and a new intake pressure sensor. This is the result of years of study on engine behavior and wear in rally and circuit racing in Japan, where it races in the Super Endurance Series for touring cars, heir to the old JTCC (not to be confused with the JGTC and current SuperGT).
Of course, Toyota continues to offer in the GR Yaris the six-speed manual gearbox that many motor lovers would almost certainly choose. Now, the Japanese firm has introduced a new automatic gearbox called Gazoo Racing Direct, an eight-speed box that has also been tested on the circuit (in the Super Taikyu, no less) and refined to achieve better lap times than with the manual transmission, taking advantage of the fact that the gear ratio is closer as it has eight gears. The automatic transmission incorporates paddles, as is common in many automatic models today.
The new GR Yaris also has a torque control system and Sport, Normal and Eco driving modes, which affect not only the accelerator response, but also the operation of the electric power steering, the dashboard display and even the the way the air conditioning works. To achieve the best results both when doing road routes and times at Track Days, the M gear position is the one that allows the fastest gear changes. The GR-FOUR all-wheel drive system remains unchanged.
The rigidity of the assembly has been increased with 13% more welding points and 24% more structural adhesive – Toyota has not specified how much this translates into the weight of the assembly, although it must be remembered that the GR Yaris is has lightened here and there. It should be a car with even better response, also helped by the suspensions optimized following the input of Toyota’s competition drivers, especially those who race with the Yaris in the WRC. The firm ensures that more screws have been placed in the front shock absorbers (McPherson scheme at the front, using a double wishbone at the rear) so that there are no alignment changes due to deformation of the upper bearing in cases of excess loads.
Inside there are some changes, placing the button to activate or deactivate the stability control or the emergency lights, important for rally driving, more within the driver’s reach. By lowering the upper edge of the dashboard by 50 millimeters and changing the position of the mirror, the driver now has a better field of vision. Changing gears in the sport position has been done like in the rally sequential gears – that is, pulling them to go up the gears and pushing the lever to go down the gears. It has been Akio Toyoda himself who has promoted this idea, having driven the rally versions himself.
Seeking greater aerodynamic load, the front and rear bumpers have also been modified, also making the whole thing lighter. In addition to the red, black and white colors already seen in the previous version (those from Toyota Gazoo Racing, wow), the new GR Yaris will have the gray color that you can see in these images. In Spain at least, the automatic GR Yaris incorporates forged wheels, side monitors, rear monitor and premium JBL sound system. The new Toyota GR Yaris will be on sale in Europe starting this summer of 2024.
As a culmination, two special versions of the GR Yaris will be created for rally lovers (and collectors). These are the Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä versions, world rally champions in 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 respectively, and are currently official drivers of the brand who race part-time. A nod to customs of the past, when we had the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI Tommi Mäkinen Edition (which are now priced above 100,000 euros), the Citroën C4 special edition Sébastien Loeb or the Ford Focus special edition Jari-Matti Latvala (now director Toyota sports car in the WRC) and Mikko Hirvonen.
