New Toyota GR Yaris editions with Donut mode revealed

Two new special-editions based on the updated 2024 Toyota GR Yaris have been unleashed that sport a unique livery and tuned driving modes developed by WRC world champions Sebastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanpera.

Developed from the 2023 Tokyo Auto Salon concepts, the new Toyota GR Yaris Ogier Edition and GR Yaris Rovanpera Edition have had their Gravel and Track modes deleted and replaced with reprogrammed settings that are said to reflect each driver’s personal preference for handling and performance.

Power and torque are unchanged at 206kW and 390Nm, but the way the all-wheel drive shuffles its torque around differs to the regular production models.

Beginning with the Ogier Edition, the special Toyota GR Yaris features a matte Stealth Grey body colour and gets 18-inch BBS alloys finished in black.

Look closer and you’ll also spot the French blue brake callipers and WRC commemorative stickers added to the front wings. There’s also a large carbon-fibre rear wing, Toyota Gazoo Racing decals on the left and right door and Ogier Edition logos on the back door.

Inside, there’s a WRC commemorative plaque for Ogier, who won two of his eight WRC driver’s titles with Toyota, and blue, grey and red stitching on the steering wheel (the French national colours). Grey stitching is also applied to the gear shifter, hand brake and seats.

When it comes to new driving modes there’s two – one named Morizo and another called Seb.

Morizo was actually honed by former Toyota boss Akio Toyoda, who tweaked the all-wheel drive system to deliver more consistent lap times.

The Seb mode, meanwhile, employs the front and rear limited-slip differentials and all-wheel drive to fire torque to the rear axle for high levels of oversteer.

Beside the subtle grey Ogier Edition, it’s hard not to miss the much louder livery of the Rovanpera Edition.

Boasting a three-tone paint finish that matches the Flying Finn’s race helmet, the red, white and black paint scheme also includes Toyota Gazoo Racing decals, a Rovanpera Edition badge on the boot and the same 18-inch BBS rims and carbon-fibre rear spoiler as Seb’s car.

Inside, the blue and grey stitching and trim are said to match Finland’s national colours. There’s also a special plaque commemorating Rovanpera’s 2022 and 2023 victory in the WRC driver’s championship.

To help us lesser mortals match WRC’s youngest champion’s skills at drifting and performing rubber-frying donuts, there’s a new Donut mode that sets-up the rear-wheel drive for maximum torque to the rear tyres.

A second Kalle mode is a less dramatic set-up that provides more linear handling characteristics and is believed to match the set-up of Rovanpera’s rally car.

Toyota says it will produce just 100 of each special-edition but hasn’t yet confirmed if any will be offered up for the Australian market.

Pricing has yet to be revealed but both are expected to command a premium over the $51,390 plus on-road costs charged for the standard GR Yaris, and $56,390 plus ORCs for the Rallye version.

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