Two-pedal for white-hot hatch set to be traditional torque-converter 'box rather than fancy dual-clutch
Changes to the GR Yaris to accommodate the new auto include a butchered front bumper that features with two extra openings to make space for an additional transmission cooler, although it’s unknown if the production version will repackage the extra radiator within the standard car’s snout.
It’s also not known where Toyota has sourced the new eight-speeder, but Gazoo Racing engineers claim they’ve done plenty of extra development to ensure it’s ‘worthy’ of the GR badge.
The new ‘box will also offer its fastest shifts when left in Drive and, as well as being quicker than the standard six-speed manual engineers hope to benefit smoothness and efficiency, lowering CO2 emissions for European buyers.
As well as sprouting new shift paddles, drivers of the GR Yaris will also be able to use the gear shifter. Pull the lever downwards triggers an upshift while pushing it upwards throws in a down-change, says the blog, mirroring most race cars with sequential transmissions. Reflecting its stage of development, the GR Yaris auto was driven on the same road stages as the rally cars by both engineers as well as Toyota’s vice chairman, Shigeru Hayakawa, but during the test one of the prototype units broke. Instead of simply bolting on an off-the-shelf transmission, Car Watch said engineers had to cut-up a transmission originally meant for a four-cylinder to fit the pint-sized GR’s three-pot turbo. This suggests that the two-pedal Toyota hot hatch could still be many months away from sign-off. As well as the GR Yaris, it’s thought the recently-revealed GR Corolla will also be a beneficiary of the new swift-shifting auto.
Keyword: Auto on way for Toyota GR Yaris