We knew that an updated Toyota GR Yaris was just around the corner and the hot hatch has just premiered at the Tokyo Auto Salon, bringing with it a newly available automatic transmission and a host of exterior and interior changes that we weren’t necessarily expecting. The big news is, of course, the transmission. Much like Hyundai did with the i30 N, the GR Yaris was initially launched exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission and an optional eight-speed automatic has now been added to the range. This will no doubt broaden the appeal of the car and will likely help to boost sales too. Unlike Hyundai, Toyota has not opted for a dual-clutch system, instead developing a new single-clutch unit that it dubs the Direct Automatic Transmission.
Examples ordered with the automatic come
equipped with a dedicated cooler and a pair of plastic paddle shifters are
mounted behind the steering wheel. While the automatic ‘box adds 18 kg to the GR Yaris, it should help to make it even more rapid off the line.
Whether or not it’ll be as fun to drive as the six-speed manual is a question
that we won’t be able to answer until we drive it.
Toyota has revealed that a series of
modifications have also been made to the 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder
of the GR Yaris. The carmaker has increased the direct injection pressure,
installed a new intake air pressure sensor, fitted new lightweight pistons, and
added a different intake air pressure sensor. Japanese models now produce 300 hp at 6,500 rpm and 400 Nm of torque between 3,250 and
4,600 rpm, significant gains over the 268 hp and 370 Nm of
the original.
Toyota’s designers have also had a bit of
fun tweaking the design of the GR Yaris. The changes start at the front end
where there is a new bumper with distinctive air intakes while found at the
rear are different LED taillights that incorporate a light bar, like pretty
much every other new car out there.
