New Toyota GR Yaris evolution: full tech details and DRIVEN on track.

The Toyota GR Yaris has been a smash hit for Toyota. It needed to make 25,000 cars with this body style to homologate it for rallying but has already made 32,000 and counting. Hence there is budget, and opportunity, for a facelift.

And here it is, in prototype form. We've got full details of all the technical changes to the car, which includes more power and the option of an automatic gearbox. But there's much more to it than just the numbers.

We've also driven the car on circuit in both manual and automatic form.

(Also: VERY SORRY about the sound quality. We've been chasing an issue with some kit and, ultimately, have decided to replace it. Won't happen again.)

And below are some tech details. We don't know how much the new GR Yaris will cost yet. At the moment it's £35,705 including the Circuit Pack, which will effectively become the only variant. Production starts in April and UK customers will get first cars in June.

Engine 3cyls in line, 1618cc, turbocharged petrol
Power 276bhp at 6500rpm
Torque 288lb ft at 3250rpm
Gearbox 6-spd manual, 4wd
Kerb weight 1280kg
0-62mph 5.1s (est)
Top speed 145mph (est)
Economy 39mpg (est)
CO2 185g/km (est)

0:00 Intro
0:25 Technical overview
4:47 Manual car driven
9:55 Automatic car driven

[has_]

The audio whilst he's driving is terrible

[Zerofightervi]

It's funny how Mitsubishi & Subaru were very often mocked for the basic dashboards.
Now Toyota makes a feature out of it.

[elanjacobs]

All this technology in the world and you still can't get a decent lapel mic? The audio is absolutely atrocious.

[howarddavies]

I've read a few comments on Matts presenting style in the past, and he has clearly taken comments on board, and his presenting style feels better than ever, so much respect to Matt for that. Now, the production team need to up their game and sort the dreadful audio and wobbly in car angles.

[orangesonicc]

I am glad the GR version of the Yaris is a sales hit😊

[EnamKunutsor]

The in-car audio is terrible and ruins an otherwise great video. Smh

[qwerty]

I like Autocar's review style and their reviewers, been reading it for decades, but you do sense they are stuck in the dark ages in terms of technology. You've got YouTubers knocking out high quality videos, with better sound. Come on guys, get with the times.

[sunsetgarage]

I hope Audi bean counters are watching this and can see how much of an opportunity they missed by not developing the second gen S1.

[con]

pretty much stopped watching during automatic review, audio was terrible. was actually interested in his thoughts but couldn’t hear what he was saying

[Stephanie-dlry]

Liking all the technical enhancements and the industrial design of the interior. Looks ready from some rally business.

[ferrarikangaroo]

I'm so glad that the legend that is the GR Yaris, lives on! Thanks for the great review. Have a top weekend mate

[Bajsi]

Audio is killing me, no matter if I watch it on TV or on my phone.

[ginge]

The sound and camera quality of this Autocar video seems to be so much poorer than the other channels invited to this launch day.

[mattjones]

That dash reminds me of the Mark IV Supra's dash. Finally a non i-pad dashboard.

[ggaattzz]

Great improvements Toyota! Thank you so much for keeping on developing this GR Yaris! I've had my GR-Y for 2yrs now and love it. I would certainly get this updated version. (I've just emailed my local dealer to express my interest.)
I have to say though I wish you used the more modern/luxurious dash of Lexus LBX instead of this '80s looking dash in this updated GR Yaris.

[Asheen_Singh]

I really like the dash redesign, the much better integrated infotainment screen (ones that protrude from the dash are not a tradeoff I don't care for), the bezel from the center stack - which is wonderfully angled to the driver - that goes around the gear lever, and the digital instrument cluster (analogue is fine if it follows the format of large central speedometer or tachometer, with smaller gauges at the sides).

The seat being lower and the rear view mirror are how it should have been from the start.

If the GR Corolla gets these changes it would certainly make it closer to the Civic Type R which has certainly had a better interior in terms of design/layout.

[mattyoz]

Nothing said about the Auto. Great journalism.

[mrmorizofan]

thanks for objective approach! I like the improvements, but maybe sticking with mk1 with my own upgrades. its rather nice.

[mauriceconger]

The audio on this video is horrendous like someone in post production just completely ignored it

[planbparadise]

What sound gear was used? Wanna make sure I never buy it by mistake...