TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) held the world premiere today of the GR Yaris RZ “High performance・Sébastien Ogier Edition” (Ogier Edition) and the GR Yaris RZ “High performance・Kalle Rovanperä Edition” (Rovanperä Edition)―two special-edition vehicles based on the evolved GR Yaris―at the Rallye Monte Carlo, which is the first round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Purchasing lotteries for sales of both models in Japan are to start this spring through GR Garage locations nationwide, with sales planned to be limited to 100 units each.
Both models, concepts of which were unveiled last year at Tokyo Auto Salon 2023, are special editions of the GR Yaris supervised by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) members Sébastien Ogier, who has won the WRC drivers’ title a total of eight times*1, and Kalle Rovanperä, who consecutively won the WRC drivers’ title in 2022 and 2023. They were developed based on the desire of Chairman Akio Toyoda, a.k.a Morizo, to “express my respect and gratitude to the drivers who hone and grow our cars in rallies, to all the teams that provide us with such opportunities, and to rally organizers and all others involved, as well as to fans”. In addition to feedback from both drivers having been incorporated into interior and exterior changes and 4WD control, TGR-WRT-related special-experience programs are planned for special-edition purchasers with the hope that they will join in on the excitement of the WRC.
Vehicle outline
New 4WD control modes that replace the “GRAVEL” and “TRACK” modes on the standard GR Yaris have been developed exclusively for both special editions. The new modes for each special edition are described below.
Ogier Edition
| MORIZO Mode | To achieve a high level of both traction and turning performance, restraint (direct connection) is maximally applied to the front and rear wheels during acceleration and relaxed only as necessary during braking. Ogier liked this distribution of driving force, which was derived from extensive driving by Chairman Toyoda, a.k.a. Morizo, leading to its adoption. |
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| SEB. Mode | To ensure the turning performance of the front wheels and enable vehicle control using the rear wheel driving force, the front and rear distribution of driving force favors the rear wheels. This not only provides a sense of oneness with the vehicle but, by enabling vehicle control at high speeds, also contributes to shorter race times. |
| NORMAL Mode | This mode is the same as the “NORMAL” mode on the RZ “High performance” trim level of the GR Yaris. |
Rovanperä Edition
| DONUT Mode | For driver Rovanperä, who excels at drifting and donut turns, restraint (direct connection) is maximally applied to the front and rear wheels to ensure slide control during drifting. |
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| KALLE Mode | This mode, through control that maximizes the use of an additionally installed constant velocity rear differential, allows aggressively swinging out the vehicle’s rear when entering a curve and pulling forward the vehicle’s front using the accelerator when exiting a curve, contributing to shorter race times. |
| NORMAL Mode | This mode is the same as the “NORMAL” mode on the RZ “High performance” trim level of the GR Yaris. |
A newly developed (CFRP) lightweight rally spoiler for the Ogier Edition and the same (variable-wing, CFRP) rear spoiler as on the GRMN Yaris*2 for the Rovanperä Edition improve aerodynamic characteristics.
The Ogier Edition comes in a new matte color called “Matte Stealth Gray”. The Rovanperä Edition features three-tone paint, which is applied in motifs by the designer of the helmet that Rovanperä uses when rallying, for colors that are achieved only by painting and without the use of car wrap or other colored adhesive sheets.
WRC victory commemorative decals are attached to the left and right front fenders, commemorating winning of the WRC drivers’ title.
The steering wheel stitch color matches the colors of the national flag of each driver’s home country (France for Ogier; Finland for Rovanperä). Also, an exclusive plate commemorating TGR’s winning of the WRC is mounted on the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat.
The following equipment has been added to both models based on the GR Yaris RZ (six-speed manual transmission) in addition to the equipment found in the RZ “High performance” trim level*3.
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Purchaser benefits*4
At the 2024 WRC Round 13 Forum8 Rally Japan venue*5
Interaction with the drivers and other team members
WRC car viewing and pit tour
Special Stage (SS) spectating
Name displayed on WRC cars for the 2024 season (in selected rounds)
Being presented with special commemorative gifts, etc.
In the run-up to the start of the purchasing lotteries, both models are scheduled to be exhibited in Japan at the plaza in front of the JR Gate Tower at Nagoya Station from February 15-18.
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