Toyota updates GR Yaris, again

TOYOTA has further sharpened its GR Yaris hot hatch with a fresh round of motorsport-derived upgrades building on the recently introduced Aero Performance Package as the Japanese performance flagship continues to evolve through Toyota Gazoo Racing competition learnings.

Due in Australian showrooms from June, the latest GR Yaris updates focus on steering feel, driver engagement, and cornering grip rather than outright power, following the major 2025 mechanical overhaul that lifted outputs to 221kW/400Nm.

Toyota says the latest changes come directly from lessons learned in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and other racing programs.

Toyota Australia vice-president John Pappas said even minor changes can have a measurable performance impact.

“When you’re racing, improvements are measured in tenths of seconds and these upgrades to the GR Yaris are designed to deliver the sort of performance enhancements that can make a difference,” he said.

The most immediate change is a revised steering setup.

Toyota has fitted a smaller 360mm steering wheel, down from 365mm, with a reshaped grip profile intended to improve driver comfort and control during aggressive cornering.

Steering wheel-mounted controls have also been redesigned with separated illuminated switches inspired by motorsport applications.

Toyota has also retuned the electric power steering system, broadening the operating range of assistance to improve feel and responsiveness.

The flagship GR Yaris GTS now gains Bridgestone Potenza Race tyres, replacing the previous Michelin Pilot Sport 4S setup in pursuit of sharper grip and greater confidence through corners.

The move aligns the road car more closely with Toyota’s increasingly track-focused GR performance philosophy.

The latest revisions build on the previously announced GTS Aero Performance Package, which brought a suite of functional aerodynamic upgrades developed through motorsport competition.

Toyota is keen to reinforce the direct connection between its motorsport programs and showroom GR models.

The update follows a strong recent WRC showing, where GR Yaris entries secured two podium positions at Rally de Portugal, while the GR Yaris Rally2 claimed a 1-2 finish in WRC2.

Australian rally champion Harry Bates also featured in Portugal, making his event debut in a GR Yaris Rally2.

Unlike an earlier GR Yaris overhaul, no further mechanical performance gains have been made.

The turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine remains unchanged, as does the GR-Four all-wheel-drive system and available close-ratio eight-speed automatic transmission.

Instead, this time around Toyota’s focus is clearly on incremental driver-focused improvements.

For enthusiasts, that may be exactly the point.

Rather than chasing headline power figures, Toyota continues refining what is already one of the sharpest all-wheel-drive hot hatches on the market.

Pricing for the updated 2026 Toyota GR Yaris range is yet to be advised.