Sometimes it feels like Toyota is living on another, much better planet. As other manufacturers cull anything interesting, so Toyota continues making more and more awesome stuff. Behold its latest creations, the GR Yaris Rovanpera Edition and Ogier Edition. Far more than just cash ins on the WRC names, too, both GRs boast meaningful differences over the standard model - and not just cosmetic changes.
The Rovanpera is the car painted white, red and black car (applied by the same person that does Rovanpera’s helmet, no less), complete with carbon rear spoiler from the GRMN, steering wheel stitch with the colours of the Finnish flag and a decal on the front wing to celebrate his pair of titles (2022 and 23). Far more interesting, however, are the specific drive modes that replace Gravel and Track: Donut does what it says on the tin (Kalle’s good at them, and the setting ‘ensures slide control during drifting’ with the help of new diff gears; Kalle mode ‘allows aggressively swinging out the vehicles rear when entering a curve and… using the accelerator when exiting a curve’ plus Normal mode, for any normal driving that’s planned. Presumably not much.
The Ogier Edition, as befits its more serious Matte Stealth Grey paint (and the fact that Seb is now an elder statesman of rallying) doesn’t have a Donut mode. It has Morizo mode for the benefit of traction and turning performance, a Seb mode that should improve lap times with ‘driving force that favours the rear wheels’ and the Normal mode again. Having each personal drive mode on a button push feels like a neat touch. Both sound like a heck of a lot of fun.
Additionally, both cars get some extra Gazoo Racing decals, BBS aluminium wheels, their own badges and unique displays inside. As with the Rovanpera’s Finnish stitch, the colours of the French flag are on the Ogier steering wheel. Just in case the new GR Yaris couldn’t be any more desirable, Toyota goes and makes these. At Akio Toyoda’s request, of course, 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". What a hero.
Whether you'll be able to get your hands on one is another matter. The Japanese market is only getting 100 examples of each Edition, with prospective buyers entered into a lottery to get one. While Toyota confirmed we’ll be getting them in Europe, too, it hasn’t said how many it’ll send over nor how much they’ll cost.
Those fortunate enough to get either GR in Toyota's homeland will also benefit from behind-the-scenes access at Rally Japan, commemorative gifts and their name on WRC cars for the 2024 season. Told you Toyota really knows how to do a special edition. The cars will be shown at the JR Gate Tower at Nagoya Station in February, though it hardly feels like they’re going to need any additional publicity to sell. Just remember our UK cars are on sale soon, too…
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