Toyota is making the GR Yaris even better… but only for Japan

Remember that excellent prototype aero package for the GR Yaris that Toyota previewed at its Kenshiki Forum last month? Well, it's now confirmed for production along with quite a few other updates to make the little tyke of a hot hatch even better.

Although... temper that excitement for just a moment, because the updated GR Yaris is only going to be available in Japan, with orders being taken from 11 April and first deliveries set to take place in May.

Let’s quickly recap those changes though, shall we? The most obvious is the aero-spec bodykit, available as a factory-fit option on all trim levels from Autumn this year. Inspired by the cars of the Super Taikyu Series and Japanese Rally Championship, the kit includes a vented bonnet, a front lip spoiler, extra vents behind the front wheels and a cover for the fuel tank to optimise airflow under the car.

There’s also that giant adjustable rear wing and some extra vents in the rear bumper. The latter was developed after a GR Yaris in the Super Taikyu Series had its rear bumper detach itself due to the aero load.

Another optional update will be the vertical, rally-style handbrake. That was first introduced on Japanese ‘RC’ trim levels back in 2024, but it’ll now be available to spec on all variants of the GR Yaris for maximum sideways action.

Perhaps sensibly, all versions of the GR Yaris in Japan will also now get Toyota’s full suite of active safety systems as standard, and if you spec the automatic gearbox option you’ll now get an enlarged footrest. Hold the front page!

There have been quite a few more updates to that eight-speed ‘box, though. The focus has been on its use during ‘sporty driving’ so it’s now more responsive when downshifting using the wheel-mounted paddles. Upshifts near the redline should also be more ‘direct’ according to Toyota, and when accelerating up a hill the car will now hang on to a lower gear before shifting up automatically.

Oh, and in a super nerdy change, there are now new special bolts to better fasten some of the chassis components, which Toyota says improves steering response, stability in a straight line and “evolving the sense of oneness with the car”. The suspension settings have been retuned to accommodate the tighter bolts, as has the electric power steering. Gazoo Racing just can’t stop fiddling, can it?