Toyota Boosts the GR Yaris with Enhanced Body Modifications

Five years have passed since the debut of the GR Yaris. Despite receiving a facelift in early 2024, Toyota continues to refine its spirited compact performer. For the 2025 model year, the agile subcompact is outfitted with a six-piece body kit.

The standout feature is the adjustable rear wing, designed for track enthusiasts. This addition is said to improve stability at elevated speeds and during aggressive braking.

Aerodynamic Improvements

The latest GR Yaris benefits from enhanced engine cooling for its turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine. The center-vented aluminum hood, inspired by the limited-edition GRMN variant, replaces the previous carbon fiber version. Additional air ducts have been incorporated behind the front wheels to enhance stability during high-speed turns, while rear bumper ducts help achieve a lower drag coefficient.

The aerodynamic package is completed with a new front spoiler lip and a redesigned fuel tank cover, modeled after the GR Yaris race car from Japan’s Super Taikyu Series.

Transmission and Handling Upgrades

Toyota has fine-tuned the eight-speed automatic transmission introduced just over a year ago. The updated gearbox offers faster shifts and better responsiveness, particularly when engaging Sport mode in manual settings.

Additional Enhancements

Beyond the body kit, the GR Yaris sees widened bolts for increased rigidity, recalibrated electric power steering, improved shock absorbers, and larger footrests for automatic variants. The availability of a vertical parking brake has been extended across all models, and Toyota Safety Sense now comes standard even on the base model in Japan.

Pricing and Availability

The refreshed GR Yaris is priced starting at ¥3,560,000 ($24,700) for the base manual version, escalating to ¥5,330,000 ($37,000) for the top-tier automatic model. Currently, Toyota has not confirmed if these updates will be available outside Japan.