With Toyota's move to launch its Gazoo Racing nameplate as a standalone brand, the company is also making a wider push into the enthusiast aftermarket segment with its ever-increasing range of Gazoo Racing parts and accessories.
While the range features expected items like exhausts, spoilers and shock absorbers, the company is now pushing things even further, with developments from the latest versions of GR machines being made available to owners of older car, such as a vertical rally-style handbrake or even performance software updates.
According to Toyota New Zealand's parts and accessories manager Clint Beaumont, the move aims to make race-bred technology directly accessible to consumers, allowing them to customise their cars with genuine, warranty-backed components that enhance the driving experience rather than just offer raw performance metrics.
The whole purpose of these parts is so customers can do that, Beaumont explained, referencing the diverse array of personalised GR cars seen at events like the GR Festival and present at the event where both the GRF-70 single seater and Gazoo Racing as a standalone brand were launched.
"They can do it bit by bit," he said. "And they can do it knowing that all of the tech, all of the development, and all of the testing has been done in Japan to ensure that these parts actually provide them with benefit."
The available upgrades include a full tarmac pack suspension featuring Bilstein shocks, which lowers the car by 10mm, and extensive chassis bracing. The result is a vehicle that feels dramatically different on the road and track.
"You will notice when you turn this car, and it's very pointy, and it doesn't want to wander, and it's a really cool driving experience,' said Beaumont.
"It makes it feel like a go-kart. When you compare the cars side by side, you'll really feel that."
Key to unlocking new performance potential for existing customer's vehicles is the introduction of Gazoo Racing software upgrades, a significant shift for a manufacturer previously known for locking down its engine control units.
The software package, priced at around $1200 is designed to enhance the driving experience by refining torque delivery, steering feel, and all-wheel-drive control. According to Beaumont, this development is a major milestone for the brand.
"Historically Toyota ECUs were locked down. You just could not get in there and play with the software. So this is a massive win for us that we can actually get in there now," he said.
"It lifts the torque up to the newer version of the car, which actually for New Zealand road suits really well because it brings that power band back into where it needs to be."
The software package consolidates several performance adjustments into one cohesive update. This includes a 60/40 rear-biased power distribution in standard mode and a more responsive steering calibration.
While the current offering is a single, comprehensive package, the team is open to future possibilities based on customer feedback, with the ultimate goal for the company when it first started the update programme being to allow owners to pick and choose individual updates.
Say, for example, an owner of a gen-1 GR Yaris was doing a hillclimb event, they could easily pop into their local GR dealership to sharpen up the steering and increase the torque to the levels of the latest GR Yaris.
The current "2.0 Lite Update" package being offered for the GR Yaris sees the maximum torque increased by 20Nm up to 390Nm, while low- and mid-range torque are enhanced, and improved throttle response, with High, Standard or "control focused" settings providing smoother and more dynamic acceleration.
Four-wheel drive distribution is also updated, while heavier, standard or lighter power steering can be selected, and Toyota says all software is installed by certified technicians and does not affect the new car warranty.
Addressing a common pain point for car modifiers, Beaumont confirmed that all GR parts are stocked locally in New Zealand to eliminate long wait times from Japan. The parts are also covered by a one-year warranty and do not void the new car warranty if installed within the warranty period.
"One great detail of GR parts is that they fit every time. It's not an aftermarket part you have to slightly modify. This is a genuine accessory - it's going to fit your car every time."
Along with the performance parts, Gazoo Racing is also offering Toyota's range of heritage parts, with parts available for the 2000GT, A80 and A90 Supra, and AE86 Corolla/Sprinter, with the company promising support for more classic models to come in the future.
Beaumont stressed that the initiative is part of Toyota New Zealand's broader strategy to build a passionate community around the GR brand, fostering a culture of customisation reminiscent of the late '90s and early 2000s tuning scene, but with the full backing and quality assurance of the manufacturer.
"It's all about experience. It's all about the passion. It's all about making the person behind the wheel really connect," he said. "It's the closest you're going to get to driving a WRC car on the road."
