Toyota’s hardcore GR division might quickly supply an automated transmission alternative for purchasers available in the market for a GR Yaris or GR Corolla.
Toyota GR Corolla chief engineer Naoyuki Sakamoto advised CarExpert the model is engaged on an automated transmission possibility for consumers proper now.
“It is attainable. We’re testing an automated transmission within the GR Yaris within the Japanese rally workforce,” Sakamoto-san stated.
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“We now have joined the rally sequence with a GR Yaris with automated transmission, and with every rally if we discover some points, we enhance it. Such form of exercise is the central concept of the GR firm – at all times from motorsports improvement.”
The GR Corolla chief engineer – who has simply been nominated for World Automobile Individual of the 12 months – agreed that in markets like Australia the place automated transmissions are believed to account for greater than 90 p.c of auto gross sales, having an auto possibility for consumers is an important consideration.
“If the automated transmission is nice sufficient for the GR fashions, it may be utilized to the GR Yaris, GR Corolla or different GR fashions. It is attainable,” he stated. However he went on to say that it might probably’t simply be a gearbox that does the job for the driving force, and that it must be match for objective.
“The automated transmission must be adequate for the sports activities automotive, not simply simple driving. That may be a minimal requirement for the GR mannequin. So if we won’t obtain that, perhaps we’ve got to surrender! I am undecided!” he laughed.
“Our boss desires us to develop one thing, so we have to full that.”
Sakamoto-san stated the automobile at the moment underneath improvement within the rally workforce is a ‘common’ torque-converter automated with eight gears, relatively than a dual-clutch auto or CVT.
“Within the check automobile it’s a ‘regular’ automated transmission, however with modified gear ratios – we modified it. We’re growing it, so every time we modify one thing to enhance it. Every time we could change one thing, nothing is fastened. We’re learning what sort of gear ratio is nice, what number of gear steps are good.”
He additional defined that the GR-4 all-wheel drive system within the GR Yaris and GR Corolla won’t be affected by the adoption of an automated transmission.
“Mainly it shouldn’t have an effect on that – the switch coupling is simply [behind] the transmission, so the transmission itself would not have an effect on the all-wheel drive system,” he stated.
Toyota Australia product public relations spokesperson Sam Dabestani advised CarExpert that it is a means of attempting to refine the providing to ensure the auto model will meet the necessities of the GR workforce and prospects alike.
“It is a improvement course of – they’re testing out ideas with motorsports, taking the learnings from that, and if it is appropriate, if it is high-performance sufficient to be relevant to a sports activities automotive like this, if it makes the grade mainly, it makes the grade,” he stated.
“But when it would not, it is again to the drafting board, and that is what they’re within the means of proper now,” stated Mr Dabestani.
The Toyota GR Corolla and Toyota GR Yaris fashions each use a 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, paired solely to a six-speed guide gearbox and Toyota’s GR-4 all-wheel drive system.
Rival sizzling hatches from Volkswagen (the front-wheel drive Polo GTI and Golf GTIand the all-wheel drive Golf R) use dual-clutch automated transmissions as commonplace in Australia.
The outgoing Renault Megane RS, a front-wheel drive sizzling hatch that’s quickly to complete its run right here and globally, got here with the selection of guide or DCT automated. And the Honda Civic Type Radditionally front-wheel drive-only, is simply out there with a six-speed guide.
The Hyundai i20 N comes solely with a six-speed guide, however the greater i30 N vary is obtainable with six-speed guide or dual-clutch eight-speed auto. The latter transmission alternative arrived on stream roughly two years after the guide mannequin was launched.
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