TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) has announced the GR Yaris MORIZO RR, a special-edition performance model developed with Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman and master driver Akio Toyoda, popularly known as Morizo, and unveiled its prototype at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026.
While the MORIZO RR is a limited-run motorsport-inspired variant of the GR Yaris, Toyota said the project plays a strategic role in its broader transition toward electrified and next-generation mobility. Technologies refined through extreme endurance racing, including transmission control, electronic systems, torque management and lightweight materials, are increasingly being adapted for future hybrid and battery-electric performance vehicles under the GR brand.
The special edition draws heavily from lessons learned during Toyota’s participation in the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race, where Morizo himself competed using an experimental GR Yaris equipped with the GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission. Engineers used real-world racing data to refine drivetrain response, electronic control systems and vehicle stability — areas that are critical for high-performance electrified vehicles as well.
Limited to 100 units in Japan and another 100 units for select European markets, the GR Yaris MORIZO RR features a dedicated suspension setup, an exclusive “MORIZO” 4WD control mode with a 50:50 torque distribution, and a carbon-fiber rear wing developed through endurance racing. The model also debuts the signature “Gravel Khaki” exterior shade and yellow interior accents chosen by Toyoda.
Toyota said its motorsports division continues to function as a “mobile laboratory” for future electrified GR models, where high-speed durability testing helps advance battery cooling concepts, power-delivery software, lightweight body structures and energy-efficient aerodynamics.
Purchasing applications for the Japanese market are now open through Toyota’s official GR smartphone application, with deliveries expected from spring 2026.
As Toyota accelerates its shift into a mobility company focused on electrification, connectivity and carbon neutrality, the company emphasized that projects like the MORIZO RR are not only about limited-edition performance, but also about refining technologies that will define the next generation of hybrid and electric sports cars under the GR performance banner.
