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.
The GR Yaris RZ “High performance・Sébastien Ogier Edition”(Japanese market specifications, prototype) and the GR Yaris RZ “High performance・Kalle Rovanperä Edition” (Japanese market specifications, prototype)
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.
・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.
| 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. |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
|---|---|
| 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. |
DONUT Mode was born from the story that Rovanperä, who is good at donut turns, gave a real donut to Morizo.
・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, who is Rovanperä's friend, 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.
| Ogier Edition | Rovanperä Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior |
・Matte Stealth Gray ・WRC victory commemorative decals (left and right front fenders) ・Front radiator grille decoration (French national flag) ・BBS aluminum wheels (18×8J) + French national flag + TOYOTA GAZOO Racing logo ・Blue calipers ・TOYOTA GAZOO Racing decals (left and right doors) ・Ogier Edition logo (back door) ・Lightweight rally spoiler (made of CFRP) |
・Exclusive Rovanperä Edition color (three-tone paint) ・WRC victory commemorative decals (left and right front fenders) ・Constant-velocity rear differential gears ・BBS aluminum wheels (18x8J) + TOYOTA GAZOO Racing logo ・TOYOTA GAZOO Racing decals (left and right doors, rear bumper) ・Rovanperä Edition logo (back door) ・Rear spoiler (variable wing; made of CFRP) |
| Interior |
・WRC victory commemorative badge (passenger seat) ・Exclusive GR Full TFT gauge display (MORIZO Mode and SEB. Mode) ・Steering wheel stitching (in blue, gray, and red) ・Gray stitching (for the shift boot, parking brake cover, and seats) |
・WRC victory commemorative badge (passenger seat) ・Exclusive GR Full TFT gauge display (KALLE Mode and DONUT Mode) ・Steering wheel stitching (in blue and gray) ・Blue and gray stitching (for the shift boot, parking brake cover, and seats) |
| Mechanisms | ・4WD mode select switch (NORMAL Mode, MORIZO Mode, and SEB. Mode) with exclusive Ogier Edition control | ・4WD mode select switch (NORMAL Mode, KALLE Mode, and DONUT Mode) with exclusive Rovanperä Edition control |
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At the 2024 WRC Round Rally Japan venue*5
Interaction with the drivers and other team members
WRC car viewing and pit tour
Special Stage (SS) spectating
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Name displayed on WRC cars for the 2024 season (in selected rounds)
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Being presented with special commemorative gifts, etc.
- *1. In 2013-2018, 2020 and 2021.s
- *2. “GRMN Yaris” is a marketing name. The name submitted for Japanese government certification and other purposes is “GR Yaris GRMN”.
- *3. The main specifications (measured in-house) are the same as those for the evolved GR Yaris RZ “High performance” trim level.
- *4. Purchaser benefits are subject to change.
- *5. The same program is scheduled to be implemented at WRC European venues for vehicle purchasers in Europe.