Today (January 12, 2023), I confirmed the official announcement of the New GR Yaris on Toyota’s website.
The New GR Yaris appears to have an approximate 10% increase in horsepower and torque, along with the introduction of an 8-speed automatic transmission called GR-DAT. The dashboard design has been changed, and it seems that the gear position is now displayed on the meter.
The seating position has also been changed, and remarkably, for the RC model, there is even a manufacturer option to move the parking brake lever’ position right next to the shift knob.
And of course, there’s a slight change in the appearance, and it feels like it has become a bit cooler, although the rear view might not be the preference of Rikutsu-Kone-Taro.
Having been criticized extensively in the current model for issues such as narrow visibility, obstructive center monitor, strange position of the rearview mirror, difficulty in grasping the vehicle’s feel, it seems that such negatives have been significantly addressed.
Furthermore, by strengthening the number of bolts connecting the body and shock absorbers from one to three, unnecessary alignment changes during driving are minimized, aiming to maximize the original function of the suspension.
On the body side, the application areas of structural adhesive have been expanded by about 24%, and the number of spot weld points has increased by about 13%, resulting in increased strength.
With a rigid body and well-functioning suspension that transmits driving force firmly to the ground, it looks promising!
The selling price has not been announced yet, but I’m curious. Maybe around 6 million yen for the RZHP with an 8-speed automatic transmission. However, the option to change the parking brake position seems to be available only for the RC, so maybe the RC would be a choice. I wonder if the RC can have a Torsen differential.
Rikutsu-Kone-Taro feels that considering the brief time for gear selection and the intermittent loss of driving force due to clutch cut, under current technology, automatic transmission (AT) is likely to excel in most driving conditions.
In terms of both speed and enjoyment, automatic transmission seems to have the upper hand.
The necessity of shift changes and clutch operation is derived from the torque characteristics of internal combustion engines and the rotation difference between the engine, tires, and the need for human intervention. From a certain perspective, it can be said that humans were adjusting to the engine’s shortcomings.
Being freed from the constraints of shift changes, Rikutsu-Kone-Taro feels that one can focus more on driving. It’s really great.
At first glance, there might have been emotional opposition from professional designers regarding the peculiar dashboard design. However, the ease of driving for the driver is crucial for the GR Yaris, so even if the appearance is somewhat unconventional, it probably got the green light as a production car.
Moreover, it’s great that the hazard switch is in a clear and easy-to-operate position. Many production cars with dashboards designed with the intention of burying the hazard switch (this is also the arbitrary speculation of Rikutsu-Kone-Taro) make it practical for drivers who frequently use the hazard during driving.
For designers, the hazard switch on the dashboard may be as unsophisticated and mundane as the illuminated exit sign in a darkened theater.
However, for Rikutsu-Kone-Taro, the hazard is an important tool used frequently during driving to communicate with other drivers. Therefore, it would be helpful if the hazard switch is positioned and colored in a way that is easily identifiable for the driver, perhaps as clear as performers identifying the location of the abyss in a darkened stage.
In conclusion, both in terms of hardware and user interface, I have high expectations for the 8-speed automatic transmission of the NEW GR Yaris. I might buy and play with it when the time comes, although it’s not feasible immediately.
No, I will definitely buy it. Because having experienced automatic transmission, there seems to be a profound aspect of MT driving that can be glimpsed. And vice versa. Knowing MT, I can understand the greatness of AT control technology.
If the intelligent AT of the GR Yaris can bring out the basic performance better than humans can, it will truly be the ultimate driving machine.
With AT, you can enjoy manually selecting gears and indulging in lightning-fast gear changes while cruising through winding roads, or focus on weight transfer and steering in automatic mode.
Anyway, it’s something to look forward to.
With the recent start of sales for the GR Yaris Rally2, the situation is becoming irresistible for GR Yaris fans.
But for now, let’s calm down and wait for future information disclosures.
Believing in Morizo-san’s seriousness when the GR Yaris 1st Edition was released makes me happy.
Yay, it’s so exciting!