Almost a 12 months to the day, Toyota announced two GR Yaris “concepts” at the 2023 Tokyo Auto Salon. They had been the GR Yaris RZ Kalle Rovanpera and Sebastien Ogier Editions, carrying particular look packages and tuned with bespoke drive modes befitting the WRC drivers for which they’re named. The ideas got here with a promise that, finally, people may purchase one. That time has lastly come.
In the 12 months that is handed for the reason that debut, the GR Yaris received a big facelift. So the brand new fashions look a bit totally different. The core parts are the identical although; Ogier’s automotive is completed in a darkish shade referred to as Matte Stealth Gray, which helps intensify the blue brake calipers behind these sharp 18-inch BBS wheels. A particular rally spoiler created from carbon fiber strengthened plastic adorns the hatch, and you will find a couple of decals honoring Ogier’s WRC success and his residence nation of France. Rovanpera’s automotive is brighter, carrying a model of his three-tone racing livery with particular logos and WRC accolades. The rear wing is equivalent to that on the GRMN Yaris.
Moving inside, each automobiles have particular badging and distinction stitching distinctive to every version. You’ll additionally discover unique full TFT gauge shows that present particular drive modes for every automotive. But the modes are far totally different than the gravel and monitor settings you’d discover on a traditional GR Yaris.
The Ogier Edition beneficial properties Morzio Mode, which Toyota describes as “restraint (direct connection) maximally applied to the front and rear wheels during acceleration and relaxed only as necessary during braking.” You additionally get SEB Mode, named for Ogier and tuned to ship extra energy to the rear wheels versus the entrance.
As for the colourful Rovanpera Edition, it beneficial properties a colorfully named Donut Mode which ensures “slide control during drifting.” That feels like a drift mode to us. There’s additionally the KALLE Mode, which includes a totally different rear differential for “aggressively swinging out the vehicle’s rear when entering a curve and pulling forward the vehicle’s front using the accelerator.” That additionally feels like a drift mode to us, however one with a bit extra emphasis on getting very sideways.