- The carmaker has added a host of lightweight carbon fiber parts, including a fixed rear wing.
- Toyota has tweaked the car’s suspension and electronic power steering systems.
- Global production of the GR Yaris Morizo RR will be limited to just 200 examples.
Just when you thought the Toyota GR Yaris couldn’t get any more impressive, the carmaker has gone ahead and unveiled an even more hardcore variant at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Dubbed the GR Yaris Morizo RR, it has so far only been presented as a prototype, but it’s spawning a limited-run model.
The car, sharing its name with the potent Lexus LBX Morizo RR, retains the standard model’s 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, expected to deliver the same 300 hp (224 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) as the current Japan-spec model. So, what makes the Morizo RR stand out?
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For starters, it has been fitted with a large carbon fiber rear wing, a new front splitter, and custom side skirts. There is also a lightweight carbon fiber hood, distinct matte bronze wheels, and yellow brake calipers. The Morizo RR also gets a custom color, dubbed Gravel Khaki.
Due to the added downforce produced by the new wing, Toyota has had to optimize the suspension, making it even more capable across uneven road surfaces, including at the Nurburgring.
Toyota has also ditched the four-wheel drive system’s Gravel mode, which splits the power to 53:47, in favor of a Morizo mode with a 50:50 front-to-rear power split. This is the same 50:50 split offered by the original GR Yaris in its now-defunct Track mode. Toyota has also tweaked the electric power steering.
Perhaps the coolest upgrade of them all is found in the cabin. A bespoke steering wheel has been redesigned for the GR Yaris Morizo RR with a motorsport-inspired design. It’s trimmed in Alcantara with yellow accents and includes custom switches for the audio and cruise control functions. There’s also a custom gauge display for the instrument cluster.
The only disappointing thing about the Morizo RR is that very few people will be able to buy one. Toyota will cap Japanese production to just 100 units and produce a further 100 examples for select European markets. Japanese models will be available through a lottery run through Gazoo’s smartphone app.
