Toyota hot-hatches to gain auto option

TOYOTA has confirmed that it is developing automatic versions of its rally-bred GR Yaris and GR Corolla hot hatch models, which have so far been manual-only propositions.

Chief engineer for the GR Corolla, Naoyuki Sakamoto, spoke with GoAuto at the Australian launch of the new all-wheel-drive turbocharged GR Corolla hatchback this week, and stated that those in charge want an auto option for buyers to choose, if they wish.

“It’s possible. We are testing an automatic transmission in the GR Yaris for the Japanese rally team,” said Mr Sakamoto, stating that Gazoo Racing is working on the development of a production-ready auto transmission based on how it copes during rigorous testing in the challenging environments under which it will need to perform.

“We have joined the rally series with a GR Yaris with automatic transmission, and with each rally if we find some issues, we improve it. Such kind of activity is the central idea of the GR company – always from motorsports development,” he said.

Mr Sakamoto, who has just been nominated for the World Car Person of the Year award in recognition of his efforts in ensuring petrol-powered performance cars still have a place in an EV-obsessed market, agreed that in markets like Australia where automatic transmissions account for the vast majority of vehicle sales, that having such an option for buyers is a matter of when, not if.

“If the automatic transmission is good enough for the GR models, it can be applied to the GR Yaris, GR Corolla or other GR models. It’s possible,” he said.

“The automatic transmission needs to be good enough for the sportscar, not just easy driving. That is a minimum requirement for the GR model. So if we can’t achieve that, maybe we have to give up,” he laughed.

“Our boss wants us to develop something, so we need to complete that,” he said, before confirming that the auto transmission in question is not a dual-clutch type, as is employed in many other such hot-hatch applications.

The outgoing Renault Megane RS, hot Volkswagens and Hyundai’s N performance models all come with “DCT” autos.

Mr Sakamoto confirmed that the transmission in the development program is a “regular” auto – meaning a torque-converter unit, as Toyota uses in some applications – though the brand more commonly fits continuously variable transmission (CVT) autos to its models as a means of saving fuel and lowering the emissions output.

“In the test vehicle it is a ‘normal’ automatic transmission, but with changed gear ratios – we modified it,” revealed Mr Sakamoto.

“We are developing it, so each time we modify something to improve it. Each time we may change something, nothing is fixed. We are studying what kind of gear ratio is good, how many gear steps are good.”

The move to an auto is not expected to lessen the hardcore nature of GR hatches; they will continue to be offered with the same engine and Toyota’s adjustable GR-Four all-wheel drive system.

“Basically it should not affect that – the transfer coupling is just (behind) the transmission, so the transmission itself doesn’t affect the all-wheel drive system,” said Mr Sakamoto.

Toyota Australia spokesperson Sam Dabestani said the process of refining the transmission is in progress, meaning it could still be some time away from launching.

“It’s a development process – they’re testing out concepts with motorsports, taking the learnings from that, and if it's suitable, if it’s high-performance enough to be applicable to a sportscar like this, if it makes the grade basically, it makes the grade,” he said.

“But if it doesn’t, it’s back to the drawing board, and that’s what they’re in the process of right now,” added Mr Dabestani.

The Toyota GR Corolla and Toyota GR Yaris models both use a 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, paired exclusively to a six-speed manual gearbox and Toyota’s GR-Four all-wheel drive system.

Other hot-hatches on the market that offer a manual transmission option alongside an auto choice; the Hyundai i30 N is one example, even though its DCT auto option arrived years after the launch of the manual.

Renault’s soon-to-expire Megane RS also came with manual or DCT auto.

Volkswagen – which offers a number of performance models in front-wheel drive (Polo GTI, Golf GTI) and all-wheel drive (Golf R hatch and wagon, T-Roc R SUV, Tiguan R SUV) – only offers those models with dual-clutch automatic transmissions as standard.