Toyota has announced two special editions of the newly upgraded GR Yaris hot hatchback, which will go on sale in limited numbers later this year.
Called the GR Yaris RZ High Performance Sébastien Ogier Edition and the GR Yaris RZ High Performance Kalle Rovanperä Edition, they were first unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon last year.
As their names suggest, the cars are inspired by the Gazoo Racing competition machines driven by Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä in the World Rally Championship (WRC).
They are limited to the Japanese market, where potential customers can participate in lotteries to secure an order slot. Only 100 copies of each will be made.
While no changes have been made to the new GR Yaris’ 299bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the two cars get all-wheel drive and special rally-specific driving modes.
In the Ogier Edition, drivers can access Normal mode – the same as Normal mode on the RZ High Performance Trim of the standard GR Yaris – and Morizo mode, which improves traction and cornering by providing maximum restraint to the front – and rear wheels.
It also features Seb mode, which transfers power to the rear wheels, which “provides a sense of unity with the car” and improves handling at higher speeds.
The Rovanperä Edition also gets Normal mode, plus Donut mode, which improves drifting and donut spins by applying maximum direct connection to both the front and rear wheels.
Kalle Mode allows drivers to make full use of an additional rear differential to swing out the rear of the car and pull the front forward when accelerating out of corners.
As for design changes, the Rovanperä Edition is equipped with the rear wing from the GR Yaris GRMNwhile the Ogier Edition gets a newly developed, lightweight rear spoiler.
Both cars feature decals celebrating Gazoo’s 2023 WRC title on the front fenders, plus stitching on the steering wheel that matches the national flag of each driver’s home country (France and Finland).
Each car will also receive a festive plaque on the dashboard.
The two cars were developed at the request of Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda, an avid motorsport fan.
He said they were created to “express my respect and gratitude to the drivers who hone and grow our cars in rallies, to all the teams who provide us with such opportunities and to the rally organizers and everyone else involved, as well as to the fans” .