The 2024 Toyota GR Yaris facelift model will go on sale in Japan on 8 April via a lottery.
When it comes to fun little hot hatches, one of the best examples in the modern day remains the Toyota GR Yaris. This 3-door performance compact first took the world by storm in 2020 and is now “evolved” or facelifted for 2024. Last week, they began accepting applications in its purchasing lotteries for the GR Yaris RZ “High performance・Sébastien Ogier Edition” (Ogier Edition) and the GR Yaris RZ “High performance・Kalle Rovanperä Edition” (Rovanperä Edition), of which only 100 of each will be made.
Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä are drivers of the Toyota GR World Rally Team, who have been very successful since the team’s reintroduction in 2017.
What’s new With The GR Yaris?
Being a facelift model, you can expect some changes to the exterior design. The Toyota GR Yaris has some improvements to its look including a new lower grille with a steel mesh and side lower grilles with larger openings for better cooling performance. The rear lamps have been consolidated into one piece and the high-mount stop lamp has been separated from the rear spoiler, allowing for spoiler customization.
The interior has been given some enhancement as well. The control panel and display are now tilted 15-degrees towards the driver, with a lowered driving position and an adjusted steering wheel position to match. The rearview mirror has been moved to the top of the windshield and the centre cluster has been lowered, lending better overall visibility. Other changes include raising the shift lever by 75mm and introducing a new 12.3″ TFT colour display. Most of these changes were made in response to what motorsport drivers requested.
The 1.6L turbocharged 3-cylinder has been tuned for more power. It now has an output of 304PS and 500Nm of torque, up from 272PS and 370Nm of torque. There’s an all-new automatic transmission option and this also comes with a transmission fluid cooler as standard. Plus, an optional “Cooling Package” which adds a sub-radiator, cool air intake, and intercooler sprayer, is available.
Toyota has also increased the number of bolts hastening the body to the shock absorbers to 3 to further suppress alignment changes while driving. Spot welding points have been increased by 13% and 24% more structural adhesive is used on this evolved model.
Drive Mode Select is now standard with more options for drivers and a new Circuit Mode that lets you control the anti-lag, speed limiter, cooling fan and shift timing indicator.
