“Introducing the 2024 Toyota GR Yaris: Small Car with Power, Now with New Automatic Transmission and Bold Exterior”

In the Tokyo Auto Salon 2024 exhibition held in Japan, Toyota unveiled an upgraded version of the Toyota GR Yaris. This is the high-performance version of the Toyota Yaris that was first introduced in 2020.

The most prominent highlight of this high-performance hatchback is the new transmission. The Toyota GR Yaris 2024 is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Previously, this model only had a 6-speed manual transmission. The addition of an automatic transmission will expand the customer base and improve the sales of the Toyota GR Yaris.

In the new automatic version, the Toyota GR Yaris 2024 will also be equipped with a new cooling system and paddle shifters made of new plastic material behind the steering wheel. Compared to the manual version, the automatic version will be about 18 kg heavier.

In addition, Toyota has also improved the 1.6L 3-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine of the GR Yaris. As a result, this engine produces a maximum power of 300 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and a peak torque of 400 Nm in the rpm range of 3,250 – 4,600 rpm. Compared to the previous version, the engine is now 32 horsepower and 30 Nm more powerful. The car still has 3 driving modes: Sport, Normal, and Eco.

In addition to the more powerful engine and the new transmission option, the Toyota GR Yaris 2024 has also undergone slight improvements to its exterior. The designers at Toyota have changed the front area of the car with a new front bumper, integrating a wider center air vent. This center air vent is accompanied by a thin, lightweight steel mesh, ensuring efficient engine cooling.

In addition to the separate center air vent and new air intake on the front bumper, the two corner air intakes on the front bumper have the function of cooling the auxiliary heat exchanger.

At the rear, this high-performance car has new LED taillights, connected by a light strip in the middle. The taillights of the car have a design similar to the compact luxury SUV Lexus LBX.

Similar to the exterior, the interior of the Toyota GR Yaris 2024 has also been refreshed. The notable changes in the car’s interior are in the new instrument cluster, which focuses more on the driver. This digital instrument cluster has a 12.3-inch size similar to the Toyota GR Corolla. In addition, the center touchscreen has been repositioned and tilted 15 degrees towards the driver. The cluster display and instrument panel of the car have been lowered by 50 mm to ensure visibility for the driver.

Even the engine start button and the hazard warning light have been moved to a position that allows the driver to easily access even when fastening the seat belt. The driver’s seat has been lowered by 25 mm compared to the previous version while the gear lever has been raised by an additional 75 mm.

According to the plan, the Toyota GR Yaris 2024 will go into commercial production in the spring of this year. The selling price of the car in the Japanese market has not been announced.