Check out the updated Toyota GR Yaris you can’t have

Neither the garden variety Yaris nor the 300-hp Gazoo Racing version are sold in Canada.

Toyota GR Yaris front — *Toyota has updated the GR Yaris, which is not available in Canada. – Toyota photo*

Toyota has updated its GR Yaris pocket rocket. Sadly, it’s not for us in Canada.

Toyota no longer sells the garden variety Yaris and that means we don’t get access to the rally bred hot hatch from Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division.

But, it’s fun to take a look at what it is anyway.

What’s new?

Toyota said insights gained in motorsports were incorporated into the development process to enhance driving performance.

“Under the slogan of ‘Thanks for breaking it’ directed at the drivers who pushed the vehicle to its limits, TGR honed the GR Yaris through constant enhancements, thoroughly pursuing the cause of problems by analyzing driving data, reviewing steering feel, and examining what kind of scratches and foreign matter were on broken parts,” Toyota said in a news release.

Toyota GR Yaris rear — *The Toyota GR Yaris has a new available Aero Performance Package. – Toyota photo*

Toyota said the car’s direct automatic transmission has been honed with improvements to gear selection control in sporty driving.

Responsiveness has also been enhanced by expanding the vehicle speed range for downshifting when downshifting via a paddle shifter.

On inclines, the shift-up timing is slightly delayed to maintain higher power output.

New bolts provide a higher level of fastening rigidity to fasten chassis components, which improves steering response and straight-line stability.

Suspension settings have been retuned to accommodate changes to the bolt fastening. The adjustments were made for improvements to vehicle control and ride comfort.

The electric power steering has also been tuned further with the help of professional race driver Kazuya Oshima, which Toyota said improves steering linearity.

The footrest has been enlarged for cars with an automatic transmission.

An optional vertical parking brake will now be available on trim levels. This parking brake setup is based on insights from FIA World Rally Championship, the Japanese Rally Championship and others.

The Toyota Safety Sense now comes standard on all trims.

Toyota GR Yaris interior — *The vertical parking brake is now optional on all grades of the Toyota GR Yaris. – Toyota photo*

Aero Performance Package

The car’s Aero Performance Package, which is a new factory-installed option, adds aerodynamic performance parts.

Powertrain

The GR Yaris is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine producing 300 hp (304 PS) and 295 lb.-ft. (400 Nm) of torque.

It utilizes GR-FOUR four-wheel drive with an electronic multi-plate clutch. There are Torsen limited slip differential on the front and rear axles.

Transmission options include a six-speed manual or an eight-speed Gazoo Racing direct automatic.

The new GR Yaris goes on sale in Japan in May. The aero package will become available in the fall or later.

Not that this helps you in Canada in any way, but in case you’re curious, the car has a starting price of 3,560,000 yen for the stick shift model and 3,910,000 yen for the automatic.