Alas, they won't be making it to America.

Toyota has expanded its Yaris lineup with a new GR-tuned variant. No, this isn't a full-bore GR car, like the Toyota GR Corolla that we'll be getting in the States. Instead, think of this as M240i versus an M2. A car with some performance inclinations, but far from the fully turned-up GR Yaris Still, this one at least promises to be more practical than the GR Yaris. Toyota has also debuted a new Z Adventure trim.

These two Japan-only crossovers will round out Toyota's crossover lineup overseas. The GR Sport will for now remain the fastest crossover Yaris you can buy, as Toyota has said it won't be offering a GR version, which would compete with something like the Hyundai Kona N here in America.

Still, there's plenty to distinguish this from its more pedestrian sibling. The GR Sport gets new 'Gazoo Racing' emblems on the grille and rear hatch, more aggro 18-inch wheels (with Falken FK510 tires), and a subtle redesign to the front and rear fascias.

Inside, Toyota has of course added some sportier seats, trimmed in what Toyota calls "Air Nubuck" and synthetic leather. Throughout the rest of the interior, there are new dark metallic accents, GR badging, and aluminum pedal covers.

None of that means anything without meaningful performance tweaks, which the GR Sport gets. The new crossover will have extra sporty suspension with 0.4-inch lower suspension, new floor bracing for chassis rigidity, retuned steering, and an even more rigid driveshaft (though that's only for the hybrid).

Disappointingly, power outputs are unchanged. the 1.5-liter gas engine makes 118 hp, with a hybrid of the same displacement producing a combined 118 hp. Yes, both of those numbers are the same. We imagine the benefit to the hybrid is simply fuel economy. Sadly, there's no manual available. Both this and the Z Adventure trim are automatic only.

Speaking of, the Z Adventure gets some upgrades of its own. The new trim adds silver skidplates (plastic) to the bumpers, and new 18-inch wheels are accompanied by silver roof rails, so you can mount a roof tent or similar for all your adventuring needs. Inside, new tan leather adorns the seats with black fabric inserts. Mechanically, the car is identical to a regular Yaris, with both a 1.5-liter three-pot with FWD and a 1.5-liter hybrid front or all-wheel drive car available.

Japanese buyers can order their cars starting on August 8, and pricing starts at $17,169 for the GR Sport ($19,947 for the hybrid), with the Z Adventure starting at $16,900 or $21,286 for the hybrid.

Shortly before applying to law school, Chase decided to take a chance on pursuing his dream job: playing with cars and getting paid for it. Law school was just a means to an end, after all. His first writing job was freelance and barely paid his grocery bill. It quickly turned into a full-time position, eventually leading Chase to join CarBuzz in 2022. Chase now tests cars, and sits comfortably at the news desk when he's not in the driver's seat. In his spare time, Chase can be heard trying to play guitar, or out enjoying Colorado's natural splendor in his BMW M3.