Toyota GR Yaris facelift shown at KLIMS – auto and manual confirmed for Malaysia, 1H 2025 launch

Making a relatively quiet arrival in Malaysia is the Toyota GR Yaris minor change, or facelift, which is shown here on a preview basis. Official, Malaysian-market details for the rally-inspired high-performance hatchback remain unconfirmed for the time being, and for now the GR line-up continues to include its larger, five-door sibling, the GR Corolla which is priced at RM355,000.

The big news that has followed the facelifted GR Yaris is the addition of an automatic transmission option, whereas the pre-facelift GR Yaris was a three-pedal manual-only offering.

The cabin of this display unit at the 2024 Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) is inaccessible for the time being, so it remains to be seen which of the two transmission choices equip this particular car. The two-pedal option sports the manufacturer’s Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission, which is an eight-speed unit that Toyota says has been optimised for sporty driving.

Both manual and automatic transmission versions of the GR Yaris facelift get an uprated version of the G16E-GTS 1.6 litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 304 PS and 400 Nm of torque, or 32 PS and 30 Nm more than from the pre-facelift.

Outputs are sent to all four wheels through the manufacturer’s GR-Four all-wheel driveline that has been revised for its configuration of drive modes. To cope with the increased outputs, the 8AT version gets a new transmission oil cooler.

Instead of fixed torque split selections of 60:40, 30:70 or 50:50 between the front and rear axles, the GR Yaris facelift gets variable torque distribution within modes; Track Mode varies between 60:40 to 30:70 depending on the car’s phase within a corner, while Gravel Mode defaults to a 53:47 split, and self-adjusts depending on driver input, vehicle behaviour and road or track conditions.

Elsewhere, there are structural fortifications as well. Suspension dampers get a greater number of fastening bolts to the body to reduce alignment shifts during cornering, spot welding points have increased by 13%, and the use of structural adhesive has increased 24%.

From other markets, we also know that the minor change iteration of the GR Yaris brings a revised dashboard that brings various major and minor controls within closer reach of the driver. The revised dashboard houses a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, which adds a ATF temperature display and a visual warning for the gear position display for the auto version. Both 6MT and 8AT versions get a mechanical handbrake.

Prospective buyers of cars of this ilk can look forward to the updated Toyota GR Yaris in Malaysia next year, as it is expected to have its market launch in the first half of 2025, UMW Toyota personnel has informed paultan.org. For those in the position to acquire one, the question remains – will it be manual or auto?

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