Upgraded 2024 Toyota GR Yaris Debuts With 8AT Box And Refreshed Styling

The Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch has been revised significantly in its latest 2024 model year guise. Unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2024 this week, the rally rep gains styling updates inside and out, but the mechanical upgrades and new 8-speed automatic option are what's making headlines.

Though Toyota will reportedly continue offering the GR Yaris with a 6-speed manual transmission still, but the new 8-speed automatic option is set to make it a more accessible and friendlier car altogether.

According to Toyota, the new 8AT box’s development was driven by chairman Akio Toyoda’s “desire to provide the fun of driving to as many people as possible and expand the base of motorsports”.

Upgrades to the 1.6-litre 3-cyl turbo powerplant sees output figures raised to 300 HP and 400 NM. The new 'Direct Automatic Transmission' option has 8 cogs and adds 18 KG to the car's weight.

Called ‘Direct Automatic Transmission’, Toyota had previously trialled this torque-converter automatic in both the  in the Super Taikyu endurance series and the Japan Rally Championship. Though it adds 1 KG to the hot hatch’s weight, it promises more rapid off-the-line acceleration.

Besides the new 8AT option, Toyota also beefed up the 1.6-litre 3-cyl turbocharged petrol powerplant said box is mated to. Increased direct injection pressure, new intake air pressure sensor, as well as new and lighter pistons, headlines the list of changes to the mill.

The upgraded 2024 Toyota GR Yaris also sees its chassis beefed up with increased spot welding and expanded application of structural adhesive.

As a result, this three-banger now outputs of 300 HP and 400 NM, marking significant gains over the previous version’s 268 HP and 370 NM figures. Despite these gains, Toyota has yet to release any claimed 0-100 KM/H sprint times but expect these to be improved from before too.

For reference, the previous iteration of the GR Yaris was capable of despatching 0-100 KM/H in a claimed 5.5 seconds. This is largely aided by the GR-Four all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup primed with the powertrain.

With increased outputs, expect the upgraded 2024MY version to offer quicker 0-100 KM/H sprints. For reference, the previous iteration did that in 5.5 seconds.

The 8AT variant also gains a transmission fluid cooler, while an optional Cooling Package adds a sub-radiator, cold air intake, and intercooler sprayer. Moreover, Toyota also added a new Circuit drive mode featuring anti-lag control and recalibrated speed limiter.

For the chassis, Toyota has also added more bolts fastening the body to the shock absorbers. Body rigidity has increased as well through a 13%increase in the number of spot welding points and a 24% expansion in the area where structural adhesive is applied.

There are also considerable changes done to the exterior, but the base silhouette remains.

Up front sees the GR Yaris gain a new bumper, whilst the rear sees new taillights featuring a connecting light bar element.
 

Considerable changes in styling can also be seen inside and out with this updated 2024MY version of the GR Yaris. Up front sees a new bumper with more distinct air intake channels, followed by new LED taillights that now feature a connecting light bar.

On board, the cabin also gets refreshed with a new and more driver-focused layout featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel lifted from the GR Corolla. The infotainment display has also been repositioned and tilted 15 degrees towards the driver.

On board, the cabin layout has been revised to be more driver-focused. Displays and controls are now more accessible, the latter even when drivers are strapped in harnesses.

The digital instrument display comes straight out of the larger GR Corolla model.

Taking cues from its rally racing twin, Toyota also moved the hazard light and start/stop switch so they can be reached even when wearing a seat harness. Furthermore, the driver’s seat is now 25 mm (1 inch) lower than before too.

This dramatic vertical parking brakes is primed exclusively in the RC trim level sold in Japan.

Lastly, the competition-oriented RC trim level offered in the Japanese market also gains a dramatic vertical parking brake.

Sales of this upgraded and refreshed 2024 Toyota GR Yaris are set to commence in Japan first, followed by other markets later. For now, it remains uncertain if Toyota will develop a similar 8AT option for the larger GR Corolla model just yet.