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WRC DRIVER SéBASTIEN OGIER THRASHES THE UPDATED 2024 GR YARIS ON TRACK - AND IT'S AWESOME.

Published: 2024-01-30 11:33:52 Last Updated: 2024-01-30 11:49:06

The latest incarnation of the car that’s helped raise Toyota’s footprint in all aspects, the GR Yaris, was recently revealed with a host of revisions. The looks are pretty much the same, but under the skin, there have been loads of changes, including the addition of an automatic transmission. Changes to the 2024 version of the GR Yaris include an interior refresh with a high-mounted control panel and display that’s now tilted 15-deg toward, and it looks like the setup you’d find in a racecar. The driving position is 25 mm lower, the rearview mirror moved to the top of the windshield, the top of the centre cluster is lowered by 50 mm, the shift lever rises by 75 mm and the hand brake has been adopted for vehicles with the GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission and the setup looks like one of the aftermarket upgrades that we’ve seen many of our friends do to their GRs. The turbocharged 1.6-litre 3-cylinder powerplant saw a tweak too, power is up from the original 200 kW and 370 Nm to 224 kW with 400 Nm of torque to match the GR Corolla. Because there’s a new 8-speed Direct Automatic Transmission, it requires cooling so there’s now also an automatic transmission fluid cooler as standard. For those wanting to play on track, or are planning to drive the car as it was built to be driven, there’s also an optional Cooling Package comprised of a sub-radiator, cool air intake, and intercooler sprayer. By all accounts, the latest incarnation of the GR Yaris looks set to cement its reputation of being one of the best driver’s cars of modern times. We’re already seeing amazing content related to the new car, along with a special edition or two, and it’s only just hit February.

Toyota recently revealed a pair of limited edition GR Yaris models that commemorate the car as well as the drivers who have campaigned the car in motorsport. One of these is called the Ogier Edition and it’s got some nice little changes to make it special. Two new drive modes were added to the electronics - Morizo and Seb. Morizo mode was developed by Toyota’s own Akio Toyoda, who is also known as Morizo Kinoshita, a pseudonym that he used to race under so that he didn’t get special treatment. Morizo Mode gives the car a different calibration for acceleration, partial acceleration and braking. Seb Mode is named after Toyota works driver Sébastien Ogier, and with his input, the GR Yaris sees changes to the front and rear Torsen limited slip differentials and all-wheel drive to distribute torque to the rear axle so that the back of the car can be kicked with more ease. The Ogier Edition’s bodywork has a Matt Stealth Grey paint finish and features the French Tricolour on the radiator grille and the BBS wheels, while WRC commemorative stickers are added to the front wings. There’s also a new carbon fibre rear spoiler, blue brake calipers, Gazoo Racing decals, a WRC commemoration plaque in the cabin, and grey and red stitching throughout. The crew from DirtFish recently got hold of Ogier and filmed him doing what he does best on track in a new GRT Yaris. To add to the day, there was a reveal of the new car to a bunch of invited guests along with an informal Q&A session with Ogier and a few other Toyota people. By all accounts, it was an amazing day at the track, and luckily for all of us, the DirtFish crew captured everything that went down.

Take a look at the YouTube video from the pros at DirtFish as they capture Ogier thrashing the updated GR Yaris around the track to show exactly why he had a limited edition version of the car named after him. The Q&A session is also interesting and worth a watch if you're a TGR fan - and most people are: Sébastien Ogier Drives NEW Toyota GR Yaris! | DirtFish

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Article Tags: News Driving Track Circuit WRC Sébastien Ogier Gazoo Racing SXdrv TGR Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota