Toyota GR Yaris 2025 gains a vertical handbrake option

A model’s development does not stop once it reaches the market, and the Toyota GR Yaris is a perfect illustration of that.

Although it is a niche model and has already undergone major updates, Gazoo Racing has announced another round of improvements, drawing on the experience it has gained in competitions such as the WRC and Japan’s Super Taikyu championship.

Toyota GR Yaris vertical handbrake option

The most notable addition is the option of fitting a large vertical handbrake lever. It will be offered with both manual-gearbox and automatic-gearbox versions - we expect it to be a popular choice…

As the image above shows, the vertical lever is positioned within easier reach of the driver, promising an even more exciting and extreme driving experience. There are situations in which a vertical handbrake lever can be particularly useful, as this video reminds us:

What else is new?

For the Toyota GR Yaris 2025, the eight-speed Gazoo Racing Direct automatic transmission now delivers quicker, more precise gear changes, a welcome improvement during more committed driving. The left-foot rest area has also been enlarged.

The chassis structure has been strengthened as well, using new bolts to provide greater overall rigidity and a firmer connection between the suspension components and the bodywork.

The aim is to improve straight-line stability while also making the steering response more precise. The electric power assistance has also received new calibration.

In addition to these changes, the Toyota GR Yaris 2025 features recalibrated dampers, intended to achieve a better balance between precision and comfort.

When will it arrive?

The Toyota GR Yaris 2025 can already be ordered in certain European markets, though not in Portugal.

Buyers will need to wait until the final quarter of the year, with the first deliveries in Portugal expected between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. Prices have not yet been announced, but the GR Yaris currently starts at €61,650.