Toyota GR Yaris WRC Limited Editions Have the Weirdest 4WD Control Modes

The two cars have been introduced to the world this week, at the Rallye Monte Carlo, the opening stage of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). A suitable location, seeing how the two cars are meant to honor Toyota Gazoo Racing's WRC drivers, Sebastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanpera.

Both cars are, naturally, based on the new GR Yaris, but they somehow pre-date the new hatchback, as they were first shown in concept form at the 2023 Tokyo Auto Salon. And each is special in its own way, down to the very wacky 4WD control modes that have been imagined for them.

We'll start with the commonalities between the two and that would be, of course, most of the cars.

The platform is the same as in the production version, a combination of the GA-B Yaris at the front and the GA-C at the rear. It too comes with the same improvements meant to make the stock variant more rigid, namely a 13 percent increase in spot welds and 24 percent more structural adhesive.

The suspension system is comprised of MacPherson struts and rear double wishbones with trailing arms, with extra bolts added to the front shock absorbers and new springs all around.

The beating heart of the two special edition Yaris cars is the same three-cylinder engine used before and deployed on the new version as well. Compared to its previous capabilities, however, the new Yaris is significantly more potent: 261 hp and 360 Nm of torque, which is an extra 19 hp and 30 Nm more than before.

What sets the two cars apart from their normal sibling is, first and foremost, the styling. Both have been designed, inside and out, with input from the two drivers. The most noticeable addition is the brand-new carbon fiber-reinforced plastic spoiler that adorns each of the two Yaris models.

The first of the two cars, the Toyota GR Yaris RZ Ogier Edition, flaunts an exterior in a brand new color in the Japanese carmaker's arsenal, something called Matte Stealth Gray. On top of that WRC victory commemorative decals have been placed. Inside, the steering wheel stitch colors are meant to replicate the ones on the flag of France, Sebastien Ogier's home country.

The Toyota GR Yaris RZ Rovanpera Edition comes in a three-tone paint that matches the colors seen on the driver's helmet. This car too wears WRC victory commemorative decals, but the stitching on the steering wheel comes in the colors of the Finland, the place from where Kalle Rovanpera hails from. Both models feature a plate on the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat honoring Toyota Gazoo Racing's win in WRC last season.

And now about those 4WD control modes I mentioned. You see, a normal Yaris uses Gravel and Track to adjust its settings depending on road conditions. These two special editions however have something called Morizo Mode, Seb Mode, Donut Mode, and Kalle Mode.

The Morizo mode is available only on the Ogier Edition, and it is a nod to Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda (whose nickname is Morizo). When pressing this button the Yaris applies maximum restraint to the wheels during acceleration, and only lets go during braking.

The same car also features the Seb Mode, named after the rally driver, and engaging that will enable vehicle control using the rear wheel driving force. A third mode on this car, Normal, is the same as on the RZ High-Performance trim level of the GR Yaris.

On the Rovanperä Edition the Donut Mode takes center stage. This one was named after the WRC driver's ability to perform donuts, and it is the equivalent of the Morizo. When choosing the Kalle Mode, the vehicle's rear can be aggressively swung when entering a curve, "contributing to shorter race times." Last but not least, the Normal mode is the same as described above.

All of the above modes have been exclusively developed for these cars, meaning owning one is the only way to enjoy them.

Toyota says it will only make 100 units of each of the two models, and since it expects a very high interest in them, it will hold a purchasing lottery. The details on that, as well as the pricing for the two special editions of Yaris WRC, were not announced.

It's also unclear when the cars will become available, but it's unlikely that'll be so before mid-February. That is because on the weekend of February 18, the two vehicles will be on display in front of the JR Gate Tower at Nagoya Station in Japan.