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The hottest Yaris on the market has just gained more pep in its step, gaining some ground on the Volkswagen Golf R
Toyota has announced a significant update for its GR Yaris hot hatch at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon.
The biggest news is that the GR Yaris, which was previously only available with a six-speed manual transmission, will now also be available with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
According to Toyota, the new transmission “has been optimised for dynamic driving, delicately sensing the driver’s operation of the accelerator and brakes to anticipate gear shifts before vehicle behaviour changes, providing incredibly fast and intuitive shifting”.
Unlike its (larger) Volkswagen Golf R rival that uses a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the GR Yaris’ system instead uses a conventional torque converter setup.
Toyota has also boosted power and torque outputs for the GR Yaris, with power rising from 200kW to 224kW, and torque also lifting from 370Nm to 400Nm.
The hottest Yaris variant will continue to be powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine.
Toyota Australia has confirmed that the updated GR Yaris will begin production for Australia in late 2024.
Inside the cabin, Toyota has made some key changes to the performance model, with the console now tilted at a 15-degree angle towards the driver.
Additional safety features have also been added, as well as Toyota’s connected services.
Pricing and specifications will be revealed closer to its local launch.
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