The new season of the World Rally Championship kicks off this weekend, and in anticipation of the opening race in Monte Carlo, Toyota has revealed two exclusive high-performance versions of the new GR Yaris, developed with the personal input of world champion drivers Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä.
The new models, which Toyota has already announced will be produced in very limited numbers, were developed under the supervision of Ogier, who won two of his eight world champion titles with the Japanese brand, and Rovanperä, the winner in 2022 and 2023.
Each of the special GR Yaris models has seen the “Gravel” and “Track” driving modes present in the production version replaced by reprogrammed settings to reflect each driver’s personal preferences in terms of behavior and performance.
In terms of the engine, these versions make use of the latest development of the GR Yaris’ 1.6-liter Turbo three-cylinder engine, producing 280 horsepower and 390 Nm of torque, paired with an intelligent six-speed manual transmission (6iMT).
The Ogier special edition GR Yaris is equipped with two new control modes for the all-wheel drive system (AWD): Morizo and Seb. The Morizo mode was developed by Morizo (Akio Toyoda) through his rally driving experiences and is calibrated to help achieve consistent race times in acceleration, partial acceleration, and braking. On the other hand, the Seb mode, developed by Ogier, uses the front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials and all-wheel drive to distribute torque to the rear axle.
The body of the Ogier Special Edition is painted in stealth gray (matte) and features the French national flag on the radiator grille and 18-inch BBS alloy wheels. Commemorative WRC stickers have been added to the front fenders. Additionally, this version is equipped with a new carbon fiber CFRP rear spoiler and blue-painted brake calipers.
In the interior, there is a commemorative plate of the WRC victory on the passenger side, with contrasting blue, gray, and red stitching on the steering wheel. Gray stitching is used on the gear lever, handbrake, and seat upholstery.
On the other hand, the Rovanperä special edition has a unique Donut mode, created specifically for the youngest World Rally Champion, who enjoys drifting and “burning rubber”.
This version of the GR Yaris also offers the Kalle mode, which uses a constant-speed rear differential and front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials.
Aesthetically, this edition features an exclusive three-tone paint applied as a series of shapes painted by Rovanperä’s racing helmet designer.
In the cabin, the finishes and stitching of the upholstery correspond to the driver’s national colors, in this case, blue and gray from Finland. Like the Ogier Edition special edition, this version features a special plate commemorating Toyota Gazoo Racing’s victory in the WRC.
