TOYOTA GR YARIS MORIZO RR: BUILT BY THE BOSS, FORGED AT THE NüRBURGRING
Some cars are signed off by committees. This one was signed off by a man in a helmet, mid-stint, somewhere between Flugplatz and fatigue. Meet the Toyota GR Yaris MORIZO RR, a special-edition pocket rocket created hand-in-glove with Toyota Chairman and Master Driver Akio Toyoda, better known in motorsport circles as Morizo. Unveiled at Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, this isn’t another limited-run GR variant with fancy stickers; this is a full-blown Nürburgring-hardened, driver-focused machine built from lived experience, sweat, and 24-hour race fuel. And yes, it’s rare too. There will be just 100 units for Japan, with another 100 allocated to select European markets for the chaps with more spare change in their couches than Cyril.
The MORIZO RR exists because of one thing: the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours. Competing under the TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing (TGRR) banner, Morizo himself climbed into the No. 109 GR Yaris fitted with Toyota’s GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission, and then did what few company chairmen would ever attempt. He drove. A lot. More laps than planned, on one of the most punishing circuits on Earth. When the car made it to the end of the race, Morizo didn’t talk about lap times or headlines. He talked about feel. About how the car worked with him, not against him. About how the 8-speed automatic helped him survive 15 Nürburgring laps when fatigue and conditions were doing their best to end the conversation. Noice.
At its core, the MORIZO RR is about car-and-driver unity, that rare feeling where inputs translate instantly into trust. To get there, Toyota leaned heavily on what the Nürburgring taught them. The suspension is fully bespoke, tuned to work with the additional downforce generated by a carbon fibre rear wing developed during the 24-hour race. The goal wasn’t stiffness for stiffness’ sake, but composure. Wheels that stay glued to rough surfaces. Damping that absorbs the Ring’s infamous bumps while still delivering sharp, confident responses on normal roads. Even the electric power steering has been recalibrated specifically for this model, reinforcing the idea that this isn’t a show car. It’s a tool. One designed to make you want to keep driving long after you should have stopped. One of the standout features is a MORIZO-exclusive 4WD control mode, replacing the standard GRAVEL setting.
In MORIZO mode, torque distribution is locked at 50:50 front to rear, delivering predictable traction and balance, especially under hard driving. It’s a setting born from real race conditions, designed to inspire confidence rather than chase numbers. The headline act is that carbon-fiber rear wing, developed directly through endurance racing. It’s joined by a front spoiler, side skirts, and a carbon fibre bonnet, all working together to add stability without turning the car into a track-only model. The exclusive “Gravel Khaki” paint is subtle, and it’s paired with a Piano Black grille, Matte Bronze wheels, and yellow brake calipers, the latter matching Morizo’s signature accent colour. Inside, that yellow continues in the stitching and detailing, while a suede-wrapped steering wheel takes centre stage. It’s slightly smaller than standard, with reworked paddle shifters and independently laid-out switches inspired by the GR Yaris Rally2 car. Everything falls to hand. Nothing is decorative for decoration’s sake. There’s also the obligatory serial-number plate, a MORIZO RR logo, and even a Morizo-autographed windshield.
Take a look at the YouTube video hosted by the chaps at DPCcars that details the awesomeness that is the limited edition Toyota Yaris GR MORIZO RR: GR Yaris Morizo RR Is Toyota’s Most Driver Focused Car Yet | DPCcars
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