Toyota's Innovative Technology Poised to Enhance Interest in Motorsports - Round 5 Motegi Races
Toyota's GR-DAT: Bridging the Gap Between Automatics and Motorsports
Toyota's new Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT) is revolutionising the motorsports landscape, making high-performance driving more accessible to those who prefer automatic transmissions.
Introduced in the Rally Challenge in 2021, the GR-DAT 8-speed torque converter automatic was specifically designed to optimise gear selection control, responsiveness, and shift timing for sporty driving performance. Unlike regular automatics that prioritise smoothness or efficiency, the GR-DAT is tuned for quicker, sharper shifts that enhance acceleration and driving engagement without sacrificing the ease of an automatic gearbox.
The GR-DAT was developed to lower the barrier to entry for spirited driving and rally-inspired performance. It blends the convenience and accessibility of an automatic with performance attributes tailored to the GR Yaris's rally DNA, making motorsport-like driving experiences more approachable to drivers who might find manual transmissions challenging or less comfortable.
Key aspects of the GR-DAT include an 8-speed torque converter automatic specifically created for the GR Yaris (different from common 6-speed automatics and CVTs), optimised gear selection and shift timing that respond faster during acceleration, and a design that maintains the engagement and dynamics suited for track or rally-style driving while being friendly for the AT-driving majority.
The GR Yaris also offers a 6-speed Intelligent Manual Transmission with rev-matching, focusing on pure driver engagement, but the GR-DAT provides an easier alternative without losing performance focus. By appealing to automatic transmission drivers, Toyota expands the GR Yaris’s reach in motorsports and performance segments traditionally dominated by manual-transmission enthusiasts.
Chairman Akio Toyoda, also known as Morizo, is leading these efforts to advance motorsports and promote sustainable practices. He drove a GR Yaris equipped with the new DAT technology at Round 5 of the 2023 ENEOS Super Taikyu Series Supported by Bridgestone. In a regular automatic transmission, there is a slippery feeling on a racetrack, giving little sense of a direct connection with the gears. However, the DAT provides a direct connection with the gears and responds linearly to gas pedal input.
The DAT locks in from the moment you set off and shaves time off laps without any loss. Development of DAT began in 2016, and the concept was formulated in the second half of 2020. Vice Chairman Shigeru Hayakawa served as the development driver for DAT in 2021. The race was held at Mobility Resort Motegi in Motegi, Tochigi Prefecture, on September 2-3.
In 2022, DAT was used by Tomoyuki Shinkai, a driver with several titles, in the All Japan Rally Championship. It has been used in various racing events, including the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series Supported by Bridgestone. DAT was initially developed to open the door to motorsports for the vast majority of AT drivers. It is faster than manual transmissions in racing, providing a more engaging and responsive driving experience.
In 2022, 857,000, or over 70%, of the 1,176,000 people who passed the regular vehicle license test in Japan were AT-only drivers. Toyota's GR-DAT is a performance-oriented, rally-inspired automatic transmission engineered to combine the sporty responsiveness of a racing gearbox with the convenience preferred by automatic drivers, supporting Toyota's goal to grow motorsport participation among a broader audience.
The GR-DAT technology, introduced in 2021, is not limited to the racing landscape but also has applications in other industries, such as finance and transportation, as it offers a merger of performance and convenience, a necessity in those sectors.
Toyota's GR-DAT, with its rapid response and adjusted shifting for sporty performance, bridges the gap between the automotive and technology realms, providing features typically found in high-end vehicles, thus appealing to a broader audience within both industries.
