Shift change: Toyota GR Yaris and GR Corolla to get automatic transmission option

Toyota has all-but-confirmed that an automatic transmission is coming to its hot hatch duo - the GR Yaris and newly-launched GR Corolla.

Both models launched with a six-speed manual gearbox as the brand focused on enthusiast drivers initially and saved development costs for the all-new hot hatches.

However, the chief engineer for the GR Corolla, Naoyuki Sakamoto, has confirmed to CarsGuide that an automatic transmission is already under development and will undergo real-world testing in a prototype GR Yaris.

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"We are putting an automatic transmission in the GR Yaris for the Japanese rally series and testing," Sakamoto said. "So always we are testing new technologies under the motorsports conditions."

While he wouldn't give any details on what type of transmission it is - it's tipped to be an eight-speed torque converter unit - Sakamoto was adamant that the new gearbox would have to maintain the Gazoo Racing focus on driving enjoyment and not just be a convenience tool.

"Of course, the GR vehicle even with the automatic transmission, the transmission needs to contribute to the ‘fun to drive' and the sports performance, not just easy driving. So now we're testing a new automatic transmission for a GR future," he said.

The chief engineer for the GR Corolla, Naoyuki Sakamoto, has confirmed to CarsGuide that an automatic transmission is already under development.

While testing is underway there's no clear timeframe on when the automatic will make it into production models, with Sakamoto stopping short of an actual confirmation. His official position was "it's possible" that the automatic from the rally test car will find its way to GR Yaris and GR Corolla but gave no firm commitment.

However, given the lengths Toyota has gone to with the testing it seems it will be a matter of when and not if the brand's two hot hatches get a second transmission option.