The Toyota GR Yaris will be even more interesting. Gazoo Racing chief engineer Naoyuki Sakamoto told Autocar that the hot hatch gets a higher output engine than the GR Corolla Morizo Edition. There is no info on when the model will arrive.
The GR Yaris with the Morizo spec engine has a slightly different output from the US version. The application of this turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder power plant has 296 horsepower (221 kilowatts) and 295 pound-feet (400 Newton-meters). The US market variant has 300 hp (224 kW).
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In Europe, the GR Yaris produces 257 hp (192 kW) and 266 lb-ft (360 Nm). So, the Morizo-engined version will have an additional 39 hp (29 kW) and 29 lb-ft (39 Nm) over the existing model.
This version of the GR Yaris also gets a six-speed manual GR Corolla Morizo Edition with a shorter gear ratio compared to the existing transmission version.
To maximize additional power, the new GR Yaris variant will lose the rear seat to reduce vehicle weight. There will also be single-zone climate control, rather than the existing dual-zone layout.
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Sakamoto tells Autocar that an automated version of the GR Yaris is still under development. It is an eight-speed automatic with a torque converter, not a dual-clutch layout. The gearbox has a manual mode, and the driver can shift gears using the paddles behind the wheel.
The US didn’t get the GR Yaris, but the GR Corolla will be on sale there soon. The entry-level Core model starts at $36,995. The Circuit Edition arrived later for $43,995 with upgrades such as front and rear limited slip differentials and a carbon fiber roof. Toyota plans to build 1,500 of them and is offering this version for a single model year.
The Morizo edition tops the range for $50,995. In addition to the extra torque, it loses weight by cutting out many of the rear amenities such as the seats, speakers, window adjusters and window wipers. Toyota only plans to offer 200 units for the first model year in the US.
For more on the GR Corolla Morizo Edition, check out this episode Chatting About Cars broadcast.
