Toyota Europe has detailed an enhanced 2024 Yaris Hybrid headlined by a new, more powerful drivetrain option as well as a more digitised cabin and enhanced assistance technologies.
The new Hybrid 130 version of Toyota’s city hatchback gets an upgraded 1.5-litre hybrid drivetrain featuring a new transaxle with a larger and more powerful electric motor for a 12 per cent increase to system power output – 96kW up from 85kW.
The new e-motor offers 30 per cent more torque than the existing Hybrid 115, with 185Nm versus 141Nm.
It also scores Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid technology, which claims to offer “more rewarding driveability”, and it all comes together to shave half a second of the Yaris Hybrid’s 0-100 time (9.2s).
However, don’t expect this boosted drivetrain in Australia anytime soon.
Premiere Edition
“The European Toyota Yaris is manufactured at its own plant in France, whereas the Australian market model is manufactured in Japan,” a Toyota spokesperson told CarExpert.
“We are always looking at ways to improve our local Toyota Yaris product offering, but we have nothing to announce today.”
Despite the increased outputs and performance, Toyota says the Yaris Hybrid 130 only sees a “modest upshift in CO2 emissions”, with the line-up rated at 96-116g/km depending on variant.
The new drivetrain variant will be standard in the new Premiere Edition and existing GR Sport grades bound for the European market, though the company says some regions will offer the Hybrid 130 option on high-grade variants too.
Speaking of, the new Yaris Premiere Edition is the new flagship variant which “showcases the model’s full range of new features”.
Distinguished by the bright Neptune Blue two-tone paint finished pictured here, the Premiere Edition gets new 17-inch machined alloy wheels with contrast black accents, blue interior accents on the upholstery topstitching as well as deco lines on the instrument and door panels.
The Yaris Premiere Edition will also be offered in Platinum Pearl White and Silver Metallic paintwork.
High-spec versions of the new Yaris – including the Premiere Edition and GR Sport grades – also debut a new digitised cockpit with enhanced in-car displays from other models in the Toyota stable.
A new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster compliments a new 10.5-inch flagship infotainment system, both of which are dubbed “class-leading” in terms of display size.
Said virtual cluster offers various layouts and designs, including Smart, Casual, Sporty and Tough settings. The new infotainment unit, meanwhile, brings cloud-based navigation function with real-time updates for routes, traffic and elays.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also feature as part of the new-gen infotainment, which now facilitates over-the-air (OTA) software updates for the multimedia system as well as Toyota Safety Sense assistance features.
A “Hey Toyota” virtual assistant is now offered in the Yaris with the ability to toggle various vehicle and infotainment functions – for example, say “Hey Toyota, I’m cold” and the Yaris will automatically raise the set climate control temperature.
The new Yaris brings new features to the T-Mate suite of driver assistance and active safety functions.
GR Sport
Acceleration Suppression is added to the pre-collision AEB function, which “intervenes to slow any sudden acceleration when it recognises the risk of a collision with a vehicle ahead”.
Proactive Driving Assist helps to “avoid familiar accident hazards when driving at low speed”. This feature comes in two parts: Deceleration Assist, which “provides smooth deceleration when the driver comes off the accelerator to slow down when approaching a slower vehicle ahead, or entering a bend”; and Steering Assist, which “recognises a bend in the road ahead and adjusts steering force to help the driver make a smooth and stable turn”.
Also new is Emergency Driving Stop System, which when Lane Trace Assist is activated can detect if the driver has made no inputs for a certain amount of time due to being incapacitated. From there, the vehicle will sound an audible warning and if there’s no reaction from the driver it will come to a gentle stop, turn on the hazard lights, and unlock the doors.
Rounding up the key changes is the availability of a smart digital key for the first time on a Yaris.
It’s linked to the MyT smartphone app, and allows up to five users access to the vehicle via a digital key. Users can lock, unlock or start their vehicle without having to take their phone out of their bag or pocket, according to Toyota.
The digital key is compatible with both Apple and Android devices, with a complimentary one-year connection to the services included in the vehicle’s purchase price. It’ll be standard on the new Premiere Edition, and optional on the European GR Sport and Mid grades.
Mid and Mid+ versions of the European Yaris will get new alloy wheels and refreshed interior upholsteries. A new Juniper Blue paint option will also bolster the palette for the wider range.
The new Yaris Hybrid will be available to order online in “some European markets” this month.
MORE: Everything Toyota Yaris
