Traditionally, the maddest of JDM creations filling the halls of the Makuhari Messe are displayed under the banner of Japan's most creative tuners. But this year, Toyota have stolen their thunder with the announcement of a mid-engine GR Yaris.

Called the GR Yaris M Concept, the midship motor is unlikely to hit the road anytime soon, with Toyota claiming the camouflaged prototype has been created “to further explore the potential of the GR Yaris” with plans to campaign the car in Japan’s Super Taikyu Series. STS is a pro-am racing series for commercially available racing vehicles such as GT3, GT4 and TCR cars, plus modified production vehicles mainly from the Japanese domestic market.

The M Concept will likely compete in the ST-Q class for manufacturer-developed, non-homologated special racing vehicles – a category that Toyota has previously used to campaign alternative fuel-powered cars, notably a hydrogen GR Corolla and a carbon-neutral synthetic GR 86. Could the M Concept follow in their footsteps?

This could explain why this GR Yaris M Concept isn’t powered by the 276bhp G16E-GTS three-pot of the production car. Instead, it will feature a 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, though Toyota is keeping details under wraps. In a manner that mirrors the incremental improvements made to the second generation GR Yaris, Gazoo Racing is planning to “implement ‘driver-first’ carmaking, in which cars are repeatedly driven to failure and then repaired in the extreme conditions of racing.” 

Alternatively, does this mean a third-generation car is on the cards powered by the new engine – albeit in a more conventional location? What cannot be doubted is the intent displayed by the GR Yaris M Concept, with its gold-lined engine bay, significantly widened track, fat racing slicks and deleted rear diffuser. Indoors is a full roll cage and Bride racing buckets. It’s a look that has strong Rallycross Metro 6R4 vibes oozing from every angle.

GR Yaris number two is the NÜR 24h, set to compete in the 2025 Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie (NLS) and, again, the Super Taikyu Series. Unlike the M Concept, the NÜR 24h is much closer to a production GR Yaris, using the newly developed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic. Racing under the flag of a new team – ‘Toyota Gazoo Rookie Racing’ – it marks Toyota's return to the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race after a six-year hiatus.

Completing the trio is the GR Yaris Aero Package concept. The kit comprises six parts, including an adjustable rear wing, extended front lip and the introduction of cooling vents behind the front wheels, plus a new bonnet. It also has the vertical handbrake – a factory-installed option for the JDM GR Yaris RC released last year.

Elsewhere, Toyota has announced a set of software developments for the GR 86. Manuals will benefit from a more direct throttle response and improved blipping calibration, whilst the automatic is now calibrated to offer a greater engine-speed tolerance range during downshifting. Existing GR 86 owners will also be able to purchase the software later in 2025 through authorised Gazoo Racing dealerships.

Toyota is also set to expand the range of GR Heritage Parts, and they’re not done there, with an A80 Supra ‘NÜR training car’ on display, plus a GR Corolla rally car also set to make its world debut over the weekend. The world's biggest car manufacturer is certainly supporting its national motor show with pride, underlining its commitment to the performance car.