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The 2026 evolution of the GR Yaris performance hatchback introduces new motorsports-inspired improvements to enhance steering and vehicle control, especially during limit-pushing driving.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s motorsports activities, including its multiple title-winning FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) team, have shaped the GR Yaris and driven a continuous improvement since its 2020 launch, expressing the TGR philosophy of making ever-better cars through competition.
Over that time, the GR Yaris has been pushed to its limits in the extreme environment of rallying and racing, where problems are thoroughly pursued by analysing driving data, examining damaged parts in detail and responding to the feedback of a diverse range of drivers.
Motorsports know-how has again guided the latest evolution of the GR Yaris and GR Yaris Aero Performance, and they benefit from detailed updates to optimise the driving experience.
The updates start at the interface between driver and vehicle. The steering wheel has been remodelled based on real-world, on-track analysis. With the aim of improving control and maintaining focus on the road, TGR engineers conducted evaluations with professional race drivers to optimise steering wheel design and layout. Using clay-model prototypes, they refined its shape and size through repeated track testing.
The diameter of the exclusive new steering wheel has been reduced by 5 mm to 360 mm to allow for quicker steering inputs. Meanwhile, the grip area has been enlarged and thumb rests removed to achieve superior response in motorsports conditions.
A new switch layout is another direct result of experience gained in motorsports, when drivers often turn the wheel up to 180 degrees without changing their hand position. On traditional designs this can cause steering wheel-mounted buttons to be pressed accidentally, so the GR Yaris’ new layout moves all buttons further from the driver’s hands to eliminate the issue.
Drivers will feel more grip and control thanks to the adoption of newly developed high-grip Bridgestone Potenza Race tyres. They benefit from revisions to the tread pattern, internal construction, and rubber compound, which delivers enhanced circuit performance whilst also reducing road noise.
To maximise this additional traction, front and rear shock absorber damping settings have been modified. Based on TGR’s experience of high-grip tyres in competitions like Super Taikyu and the Japanese Rally Championship, the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) has also been updated. The operating range of the steering assistance, even during heavy braking and high-load cornering, has been expanded by optimising the torsion bar rigidity inside the torque sensor and updating the control software.
Meanwhile, the driver’s airbag design now features an exclusive GR emblem on the steering wheel, while a Driver Monitor Camera – which detects signs of distraction or fatigue and is linked to the vehicle’s Emergency Driving Stop System – has also been added to the standard safety features.
Additionally, for greater comfort in colder conditions, heated seat and steering wheel functions are now available in combination with the optional vertical hand brake.
All updates are applied to the latest GR Yaris and GR Yaris Aero Performance models, which are available to order across Europe now.
Note: The level of equipment shown in the images related to this press release may not fully correspond to European specifications.
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