2024 Toyota GR Yaris with automatic transmission unveiled in Japan

The updated 2024 Toyota GR Yaris has officially debuted at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon. The update provides a vast amount of changes for the hot hatch which are touted to have improved the vehicle’s performance, and drivability. More importantly, the update also made it accessible to more drivers. 

2024 Toyota GR Yaris

That aforementioned accessibility part means that the previously manual-only model now has an automatic transmission version. Sure, the newly updated 2024 version will be initially sold in its home market, and continuously variable transmission already exists in other markets, but fans of the GR Yaris in the Philippines will have a lot more to expect since the model is also sold locally, after all. 

Exterior

Key improvements on the exterior primarily revolve around making it more moddable and better performing on a race track. The main design remains unchanged, but the sides of the lower portion of the front bumper now sport a new separable structure. This makes it easier to restore or mod in case it gets damaged. 

A closer look at the updated front bumper

The side lower grilles were enlarged for better airflow for the sake of cooling. The sides of the front bumper received outlets for the car to better shed heat away from the sub-radiator and transmission. 

From the side, the vehicle retains the same silhouette and the same wheel design. The rear though, was altered with a new lower garnish that Toyota says was designed to allow air to escape from under the car to help reduce drag and improve stability. 

The rear retains a dual exhaust setup but it gets a new continuous LED taillight design that now spans the width of the car’s rear making it more visible in low-light situations. Plus, the stop-lamp was repositioned away from the spoiler to make the said part more customizable. 

Updated 2024 GR Yaris from the rear

Size-wise, the 2024 Toyota GR Yaris is still 3,995mm long, 1,805mm wide, and 1,455mm in height. 

Interior

For 2024, Toyota ensured that the GR Yaris was more driver-friendly. This was achieved thanks to feedback from professional racers from the Super Taikyu Series and the Japan Rally Championship. 

A peek inside the 2024 GR Yaris

Starting with the dashboard, the center console along with the central touchscreen display is now tilted 15 degrees sideways to face the driver, which is said to enhance visibility and operability. Several buttons, like the push-to-start button and hazard light button, were also placed beside the central touchscreen for easier reach. 

Toyota further improved forward visibility on the GR Yaris by lowering the driving position by 25mm, enhancing steering wheel adjustment, lowering the overall height of the dashboard as well as moving the rearview mirror higher up on the windshield. 

The optional vertical parking brake for the Japan-spec model

The gear shift lever was likewise raised by 75mm. On versions with an automatic gearbox, its manual mode now functions like a sequential gearbox on a race car where an upward motion goes up the gear range, while a downward motion downshifts. 

Interestingly, the air-conditioning vents were also given a new round shape. The dashboard also looks flatter and looks more compact than ever before. 

Other than those changes, Toyota didn’t alter much else on the GR Yaris’ interior. It still gets bolstered sports seats, a manual hand-operated parking brake, and leather upholstery, among others. 

Side cockpit view of the left-hand-drive Euro-spec 2024 Toyota GR Yaris

As a side note, the Japanese market version may come with a vertical parking brake option straight from the factory. This makes it easier to reach and pull - which is immensely useful for a rally driver. 

Tech & Safety

Added to the 2024 refresh is a 12.3-inch color TFT digital gauge display. This, Toyota claims, is more readable for a driver. It likewise provides crucial vehicle information like an oil temperature display, and a visual gear selection warning light to help the driver avoid shifting to lower gears during high RPMS (money shift), among others. 

For the central touchscreen, Toyota didn’t indicate whether this shrunk or not, but it is no longer a floating-type screen, which again, was done for better forward visibility. This screen is also expected to retain the same connectivity capabilities as the prior model, which is Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, among others. 

A top down view of the new GR Yaris' interior

Likewise expected to return to the updated GR Yaris is the same safety suite provided for the older model. As a reference, the currently available Philippine-spec GR Yaris comes with the Toyota Safety Sense advanced driver assist suite which includes a pre-collision system, automatic high beams, lane trace assist, and adaptive cruise control. 

Its standard safety equipment includes a total of six airbags, anti-lock braking, stability control, hill-start assist, and an engine immobilizer, among others. 

Engine & Performance

The updated 2024 Toyota GR Yaris retains its 1.6-liter inline-3 turbocharged engine. Its total output though was raised to 299 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. Remember, the pre-updated Philippine-spec version makes 257 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque. 

Of course, the 2024 model is still all-wheel-drive and is still available with a six-speed manual as well as front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials (LSDs), but Toyota decided to give it a new automatic transmission. No, this isn’t a CVT but is a geared automatic gearbox dubbed the Gazoo Racing Direct 8-speed Automatic Transmission.  

2024 GR Yaris engine bay

As per its name, this gearbox was developed by Gazoo Racing for optimal performance. The gearbox itself uses heat-resistant components, close-ratio gearing, and new software that’s able to sense how a driver steps on the gas and brakes. By doing that, the smart gearbox senses when gear shifting is necessary. 

The all-wheel-drive, as mentioned retains its mode selection functionality as before. But added was a new drive mode selection. Particularly notable is the GPS-dependent “Circuit Mode” which knows when you’re on a race track or not. This brings out the full potential of the car by lifting its speed limiter, making its cooling fans spin faster, and activating an anti-lag function for its turbocharger. 

The new eight-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission

Last but not least, Toyota also improved the car’s overall rigidity. Spot welding points were increased by 13 percent, while the use of structural adhesive was increased by 24 percent. This, according to Toyota, has improved the car’s ride comfort and handling. In addition, more bolts were used to link the car body with its shock absorbers. 

Are you hyped up by the improved 2024 Toyota GR Yaris? We sure are. For now, though, Toyota Motor Philippines is yet to say if units were already allocated for the Philippine market, but one can hope. 

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