Toyota GR Yaris gets a power boost.

Toyota took advantage of the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon, which opened Friday in the Japanese capital, to unveil a revised version of its GR Yaris hot hatchback.

Inspired by the Yaris that competes in the World Rally Championship, the new 2024 GR Yaris is the latest evolution of Toyota's high-performance subcompact Yaris, dating back to the Yaris GRMN launched last decade.

The GR Corolla will be available in the U.S., but a smaller GR Yaris is unlikely to be launched in the U.S., as the Yaris name will be discontinued after 2020.

The latest evolution to the pocket rocket brings more power with the addition of an automatic transmission in place of the standard 6-speed manual. This automatic transmission is no ordinary slushbox. It was developed by Toyota's Gazoo Racing motorsports division in rally competition and was designed for fast and intuitive shifting.

Known as a direct automatic transmission, this eight-speed automatic transmission is designed to shift faster by using software to predict driving behavior. While such technology is not new, Toyota's software goes beyond standard metrics such as deceleration G and speed, integrating acceleration and braking into the logic. In doing so, it can predict when a shift change is needed before the actual change in driving behavior occurs.

According to Toyota, the GR Yaris with the new automatic was able to produce faster circuit times than a manual car.

Other improvements were necessary to address the automatic transmission's susceptibility to heat damage and to ensure drivability. The main measures included the use of new materials, tighter ratios (hence the eight-speed gears), and a new torque control system.

The driver can control the performance of the transmission using the vehicle's drive mode selector, and there is also a manual mode in which the driver can choose when to change gears. According to Toyota, keeping the engine speed between 4,900 and 7,200 rpm is ideal for performance.

The engine is a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline three-cylinder with 276 hp, up from 268 hp in the current 2020 GR Yaris. Drive is provided to all four wheels as standard via the GR-Four four-wheel drive system, which can adjust the drive torque balance between the front and rear wheels depending on the vehicle mode. Torsen-type limited slip differentials are also standard on the front and rear.

Further improvements to the GR Yaris Formula were made by additional lightweight body reinforcements using spot welding and structural adhesives. The chassis is a custom-designed combination of the standard Yaris GA-B platform in the front and the larger GA-C platform of the Corolla and other Toyota compact cars in the rear end. Suspension consisted of MacPherson struts and rear double wishbones with trailing arms, with new springs and bolts for the front dampers.

The interior was also significantly redesigned. With feedback from the Gazoo Racing drivers, Toyota designers made changes for performance driving, including moving the intercooler spray, stability control, and hazard warning light controls within reach of the harnessed driver. They made changes such as moving key controls. Driver visibility has also been improved by lowering the height of the instrument panel, repositioning the rearview mirrors, and tilting the center stack 15 degrees toward the driver. The steering wheel and front seats were also lowered.

Sales of the 2024 GR Yaris will begin this summer in select markets. Toyota will also honor WRC drivers Sébastien Ogier and Calle Rovampella with a special edition car, which will be unveiled at the Monte Carlo Rally later this month.