Toyota unveils fresh GR Yaris, Lexus LBX turbo

The world’s biggest car maker has created a follow up car to a wildly popular machine that took Australia by storm a few years ago.

An automatic Toyota GR Yaris and new Lexus performance car concept won the attention of enthusiasts at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon.

The Japanese event for high performance vehicles hosted important debuts from the nation’s largest car maker.

Toyota has updated the GR Yaris for 2024.

Having rocked the hot hatch world with the original Toyota GR Yaris in 2020, the manufacturer has unveiled an updated version with important changes.

The most significant tweak is a new eight-speed automatic transmission intended to broaden the vehicle’s appeal.

The Yaris has a new interior, and automatic transmission option.

The paddle-shift gearbox promises a sportier experience than other two-pedal Toyotas, helped by tuning input from the brand’s racing drivers.

It even has a proper handbrake.

Toyota says it tested the new Yaris in extreme conditions.

Traditionalists can still have their Yaris with three pedals and a six-speed manual transmission, though we expect the auto will be quicker on road and track, thanks to closely stacked ratios and what Toyota describes as “incredibly fast” shifting.

Subtle styling changes include new rear lights.

Other changes to the model include mild revisions to its 1.6-litre three cylinder engine that makes an extra 24kW and 30Nm, taking peak outputs to 224kW and 400Nm.

Toyota addressed ergonomic criticism surrounding the Yaris by lowering the drivers seat by 25mm and redesigning the dashboard to improve visibility.

The car has more power than before.

A new wraparound dash design incorporates a digital dashboard similar to that found in the larger GR Corolla.

Subtly reworked exterior styling includes new bumpers with fresh air vents and a revised tail light treatment.

Hardcore models in Japan have a high-mounted, vertical handbrake lever close to the steering wheel.

Hardcore versions offered in Japan have a vertically mounted handbrake similar to competition rally cars.

Australian prices and arrival dates have not been confirmed.

Not to be outdone, Lexus unveiled its own vision for a turbocharged weapon based on the GR Yaris and Corolla.

2024 Lexus LBX Morizo RR Concept.

The compact Lexus LBX Morizo RR Concept ditches the standard car’s hybrid motor in favour of the turbo triple, all-wheel-drive system and new auto found in the GR Yaris.

Wider bodywork, fat tyres and huge brakes are part of the deal.

The brand has not officially confirmed production of the boosted Lexus LBX.

2024 Lexus LBX Morizo RR Concept.

But Akio Toyoda, chairman of the Toyota Motor Corporation, released a video saying the turbocharged LBX was his new favourite car, suggesting it is likely to find a place in showrooms.

Originally published as Toyota unveils fresh GR Yaris, Lexus LBX turbo