Wednesday 13th January 2021

Litchfield GR Yaris announced

The GR Yaris is already great. Litchfield thinks it can get better...

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At launch, Toyota's engineers told PH that JDM tuners were already attacking the GR Yaris with glee. Now it's Europe's turn. First out of the announcement gate is Litchfield, which has confirmed development of aftermarket parts just two months after its launch. The tuner hasn’t relied on digital drawings and simulations to develop a new suspension kit and proposed ECU alterations either, having bagged itself a head start on rivals by actually buying two GRs to work on. It said nothing else would do for a car that’s earned customer anticipation beyond anything it's encountered since the Mk3 Ford Focus RS. 

In a bid to improve the GR’s ride and close its arch gaps, Litchfield has been working with renowned UK suspension maker Nitron to create a custom coilover kit for the Yaris. The new setup has three-way adjustment “for maximum capability”, but Litchfield has also developed a two-way kit with Nitron that “locks-in” the basic, most-optimised in-house settings at a lower starting price. Whether a buyer goes for the top level or entry Nitron hardware, the configuration is said to improve the GR Yaris’s ride without hampering its dynamic abilities. 

It also gives the Yaris a more purposeful hot hatch height; plenty love the tippy toe stance on the factory machine, but Litchfield said its customers are keen to give the car a more aggressive look - something this kit duly delivers on. Engineers haven’t gone further with the suspension mods at this stage; in fact, they're said to be impressed with the high standard of the factory setup. Hardly surprising, given that the structure is WRC homologated and was tested extensively off-road during development. 

The firm is also working on new engine management software for the ECU, and it’s reverse engineering its way into the car’s control systems so the turbocharged three-pot can be mated to an aftermarket computer and work with higher-spec components. Litchfield has already been testing a piggyback system which has extracted 300hp from the mechanically unmodified 1.6-litre motor, representing a 39hp gain over standard. Given the perceived toughness of the all-wheel system and already brilliant performance of the underlying car, it suggests minimal mods will extract a significant jump in performance from Toyota’s all-wheel drive three-door. 

Litchfield told PH that it’s working on pricing and launch dates for the suspension first, along with more upgrades including a bolt-in roll cage, new intake and uprated intercooler, and a different seat setup, with numbers due to be confirmed later this month. It refrained from giving an early estimate so as to give engineers time to finish the job; apparently the phone’s been ringing off the hook even before it confirmed the development work was underway. Who'd have though it, eh?

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• Read about the Yaris in our Favourite cars of 2020 feature
• Watch our GR Yaris vs Fiesta ST Edition video here

[steveb8189]

Looks great and I'm sure it goes exceptionally well but I'd rather wait fro the GRMN next year to see what that brings first.

[macky17]

Great. Now they just need to lower the driver's seat and fit a smaller rear view mirror for a perfect car.

[coded2112]

steveb8189 said:

Looks great and I'm sure it goes exceptionally well but I'd rather wait fro the GRMN next year to see what that brings first.

Are you sure a GRMN version is going to be produced or is that wishful thinking?

[TheAngryDog]

So does this basically screw up your warranty and throw it away?

[wab172uk]

Will be keeping a very keen eye on this.

Liking the lower stance. Will see what the seat position is like once I collect mine. But intake mods, as well as front splitter and side skirts are top of my list. Maybe different wheels, or just respray the originals.

Will need live with mine for a bit before deciding if to lower or not.

But engine will remain untouched. All new engine, so any issues down the line will be taken care of under warranty. But I'm sure some customers will be buying one of these out of loose change, so any engine problems, they won't really care about.

[dibblecorse]

Unless that set up improves its ability to demolish B roads, then I don't see the point, if you buy this wanting to go fast on the super smooth stuff, then I think you've bought the wrong car.

[GRMN27]

I thought they looked good without mods but the white one looks superb slightly lowered.

If they can lower the seats as well even better

[fantheman80]

TheAngryDog said:

So does this basically screw up your warranty and throw it away?

The ECU defo will make loo roll out of your warranty if they can work out how to flash it. The piggy back is normally invisible....although Toyota might be suspicious when the rods are bent already (not saying they will GR Mafia engine will easily handle the extra grunt no doubt)

I am sucker for a side stripe. This one looks great..

Edited by fantheman80 on Tuesday 12th January 17:05

Edited by fantheman80 on Tuesday 12th January 17:06

[leglessAlex]

TheAngryDog said:

So does this basically screw up your warranty and throw it away?

I guess yes, but because of the hype surrounding them and the car being 'cheap' in the first place, I'm guessing that there will be a significant number of people out there who buy these as toys and just wont care very much.

[mike425]

Regarding the warranty - I thought Litchfield were one of the few tuners who will actually provide a warranty with a lot of their mods?

[SidewaysSi]

Glad to see this as the car needs more focus IMO - a trip to Litchfield should sort it out. Great stuff.

[tyrrell]

Love the revised look of the white car.

[Kawasicki]

GRMN27 said:

I thought they looked good without mods but the white one looks superb slightly lowered.

If they can lower the seats as well even better

It looks like it has been lowered at least 25mm, which is around a third of the bump travel. That is quite a reduction.

Edited by Kawasicki on Tuesday 12th January 17:20

[Maccmike8]

So much want!

[BogBeast]

Very nice, like that alot. I guess we are going to see an awful lot of mods for these

[fantheman80]

mike425 said:

Regarding the warranty - I thought Litchfield were one of the few tuners who will actually provide a warranty with a lot of their mods?

no doubt they do but coverage will be limited, so if your gearbox went as you had too much torque, not sure they would pay for a new one. Happy to be wrong

[jl4069]

it will be interesting to see if they can address some if the issues some early road tests found. like making the turn in sharper, providing more steering feel, and allowing the tail to rotate more easily without use of the handbrake or left foot braking. j

[Baldchap]

coded2112 said:

steveb8189 said:

Looks great and I'm sure it goes exceptionally well but I'd rather wait fro the GRMN next year to see what that brings first.

Are you sure a GRMN version is going to be produced or is that wishful thinking?

Allegedly it was a race team car that was touted as a GRMN, rather than a customer development.

[Terminator X]

"Litchfield has already been testing a piggyback system which has extracted 300hp from the mechanically unmodified 1.6-litre motor, representing a 39hp gain over standard."

Interesting, does that mean the ECU can't be cracked or just not yet?

TX.

[gofasterrosssco]

dibblecorse said:

Unless that set up improves its ability to demolish B roads, then I don't see the point, if you buy this wanting to go fast on the super smooth stuff, then I think you've bought the wrong car.

Had similar thoughts - Nitron are a quality product, but on the cars I've tried with some of the their dampers (Elise, VX220), I feel they can push the suspension towards semi-track work.. Which is great if thats what you want, but did nothing IMO with the ability to cover ground and have fun on challenging / enjoyable roads, over fresh standard parts. A good standard passive set up is my preference which the Yaris seems to have.