A Special-edition Model Created With Master Driver Morizo

TOKYO, Jan 9, 2026 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) today announced the creation of the MORIZO RR special edition of the GR Yaris and unveiled the model’s under-development prototype at Tokyo Auto Salon 2026.

• A special-edition vehicle created with Morizo at the Nürburgring, equipped with the GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission and to be limited to 100 units in Japan
• Application of lessons learned from competing in the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race, resulting in an exclusive suspension setup and an exclusive 4WD control mode
• Equipped with a carbon-fiber rear wing developed through competing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours
• Features exclusive Morizo-favored “Gravel Khaki” exterior color, as well as brake calipers and interior accents in Morizo’s signature “Yellow” preferred

The GR Yaris MORIZO RR is a special-edition model created with Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman and Master Driver Akio Toyoda, aka Morizo, by applying insights gained through the challenge of competing as TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing (TGRR) in the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race.

TGR, with its core mission of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars, and ROOKIE Racing, which hones GR vehicles, transcended organizational boundaries and came together based on roles rather than titles under Morizo’s leadership to form TGRR, aiming to further accelerate the making of ever-better cars.

In the Nürburgring 24 Hours, Morizo, as a team driver, took the wheel of the GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission-equipped No. 109 GR Yaris fielded by TGRR, logging more laps than scheduled despite the course’s grueling conditions. Upon the team’s successful completion of the race, Morizo was quick to convey how good he found the GR Yaris to be, and he credited its 8-speed automatic transmission with enabling him to conquer 15 laps.

The GR Yaris MORIZO RR is exceptional for its Nürburgring-cultivated delivery of car-driver unity for a high level of driver-vehicle interaction, its reliability and security, and its ability to make car-lovers smile and want to keep on driving it.

The GR Yaris MORIZO RR for the Japanese market is to be available in a total of 100 units from spring 2026, with purchasing lottery applications now being accepted via the TGR official smartphone application “GR app”. The model is also to be released in certain European markets in a limited run of 100 units.

Main features

Nürburgring-honed suspension

Benefitting from the powerful downforce generated by an exclusive rear wing, the suspension setup has been optimized to achieve damping forces that allow the tires to firmly follow even highly uneven road surfaces, like those at the Nürburgring. The result is performance that allows for stress-free everyday driving while maintaining sporty driving performance, with control of the electric power steering (EPS) system also having been modified accordingly. The vehicle was developed as a high-performance model that allows enjoying driver-vehicle interaction that is unique to MORIZO RR models, generates an overflow of spontaneous smiles, and enables experiencing an extraordinary sense of exhilaration.

Exclusive 4WD control mode developed with Morizo

An exclusive 4WD control mode was developed together with Morizo, in which a “MORIZO” mode replaces the “GRAVEL” mode of the base vehicle. The “MORIZO” mode sets front/rear initial torque and driving force distribution at 50:50.

Interior and exterior designed with the master driver and professional drivers

As an exclusive GR Yaris MORIZO RR performance aerodynamic part, the model features a carbon-fiber rear wing developed through competing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Other exterior enhancements are found in the form of a front spoiler, side skirts, and a carbon-fiber hood.

The exterior color is a GR Yaris MORIZO RR-exclusive and Morizo-favored “Gravel Khaki”, which, despite its distinctiveness, blends seamlessly into everyday settings. A “Piano Black” finish makes the radiator grille look sleek, sharp, and closer to the ground, while the wheels are done in “Matte Bronze”.

The brake calipers and interior stitching sport Morizo’s signature “Yellow”.

Another exclusive feature is the suede-surfaced steering wheel, which has been given a slightly smaller-than-normal outer diameter and modified paddle shifters and steering-wheel-mounted switches for improved operability in motorsports. The switches, in particular, are laid out independently, based on lessons learned through the use of similar switches in the GR Yaris Rally2 rally car.

The interior displays an exclusive serial-number plate with a “MORIZO RR” logo.

Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative, safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all. We believe that true achievement comes from supporting our customers, partners, employees, and the communities in which we operate. Since our founding over 80 years ago in 1937, we have applied our Guiding Principles in pursuit of a safer, greener and more inclusive society. Today, as we transform into a mobility company developing connected, automated, shared and electrified technologies, we also remain true to our Guiding Principles and many of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to help realize an ever-better world, where everyone is free to move.

SDGs Initiatives https://global.toyota/en/sustainability/sdgs/

News URL: https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/104547/

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-Introducing a vivid, deep blue color to be rolled out sequentially across Mazda’s lineup, starting with the all-new CX-5-

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Jan 9, 2026 – (JCN Newswire) – Mazda Motor Corporation has developed a new body color called Navy Blue Mica. The all-new CX-5, the best-selling model(1) in Mazda’s current lineup, will be the first to become available with the new color(2), which the company hopes to become the standard shade of navy to be embraced by users for many years to come.

Mazda has a long history of using blue. In the 1970s, Mazda Blue was adopted as its corporate symbol color. A blue shade was also the color used for launching the first generation of the CX-5. In fact, the company has offered over 150 colors(3) featuring the word ‘blue’ in the name. These colors have been embraced by Mazda customers worldwide for their affinity with a variety of day-to-day scenes. In the latest move, Mazda has decided to introduce ‘Navy Blue Mica,’ a version of navy evolved from ‘Deep Crystal Blue Mica,’ to the all-new CX-5, which was developed with a focus on day-to-day usability.

Navy Blue Mica was designed to achieve color presentation that adds vivid saturation in highlights and deep elegance in shadows. The development team adopted the keyword, ‘high resolution,’ to achieve this goal. To deliver color precision and clarity as well as high contrast that accentuates textures and definition, the team has blended a fine balance of different types of mica particles,(4) arranging them horizontally. This way, design details become accentuated in any weather conditions, be it shine or rain.

Under the philosophy that color to be a crucial element of what gives form to a vehicle, Mazda will continue to pursue a design that represents lively energy to evolve the ‘joy of driving,’ thereby generating excitement in users’ moving experience and sparking the ‘joy of living’ in their daily life.

(1) The best-selling model in Mazda’s product lineup since 2018.
(2) The all-new CX-5 in Navy Blue Mica will be premiered in the “TOKYO AUTO SALON 2026” in January 2026 for the first time in the world.
(3) According to Mazda data.
(4) Paint mixed with aluminum and other metal fragments is called ‘Metallic Paint,’ and paint blended with mica particles is called ‘Mica Paint.’

News URL: https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/104538/

Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/user/mazdaofficialweb
Linkedin : https://jp.linkedin.com/company/mazda-motor-corporation

Not so long ago, NASCAR fandom was driven mostly by loyalty — favorite drivers, iconic teams, and track traditions passed down through generations. Today, that emotional connection is still there, but it’s increasingly supported by something else: data. Modern NASCAR fans don’t just watch races — they analyze them, compare numbers, and build predictions that often look surprisingly close to professional models.

From lap times to pit crew efficiency, data has become a core part of how fans understand race outcomes and race dynamics.

The Rise of Data-Driven NASCAR Fandom

Access to information has changed everything. NASCAR statistics that once required deep insider knowledge are now available to anyone willing to dig a little. Fans track season-long trends, compare performance across track types, and follow how drivers adapt to changing conditions.

Online communities, spreadsheets, and race simulations have turned race-day conversations into analytical debates. Instead of asking who feels fast this week, fans increasingly ask who has the numbers to back it up.

Key Data Points Fans Analyze Before a Race

Track History and Layout

Every NASCAR track tells a different story. Superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega behave nothing like short tracks or intermediate ovals. Fans pay close attention to:

• Track length and banking
• Tire degradation patterns
• Historical wreck frequency
• Fuel and pit strategy tendencies

Drivers who thrive on one layout may struggle on another, and that contrast is often visible in long-term data.

Driver Consistency and Recent Form

Raw talent matters, but consistency often matters more. Fans regularly review:

• Top-10 and top-5 finish rates
• DNFs over recent races
• Performance trends across the current season
• Results under similar weather or race conditions

A driver finishing eighth every week can be more predictable than one alternating between wins and crashes.

Team Performance and Pit Crew Efficiency

Races aren’t won by drivers alone. Pit crews and crew chiefs influence outcomes through:

• Pit stop timing and speed
• Penalty frequency
• Strategy calls during cautions

Experienced fans know that a fast car can still lose a race with poor execution on pit road.

Why Some NASCAR Races Are Easier to Predict Than Others

Not all races offer the same level of predictability. Some tracks naturally produce chaos, while others reward discipline and long-run speed.

Superspeedways compress the field and amplify randomness. One incident can erase hours of preparation. Intermediate tracks, on the other hand, often allow strong teams to assert control over longer green-flag runs, making outcomes more stable and easier to model.

Understanding this distinction is essential for anyone trying to forecast race results.

From Fan Predictions to Betting Models: Where the Line Gets Thin

Interestingly, the tools used by dedicated fans often resemble those used in betting models. Both rely on probability, variance, and historical patterns. The difference is usually scale, not logic.

Many fans already think in terms of calculated risk — weighing upside against downside, evaluating long shots versus steady performers, and recognizing when unpredictability is simply part of the race. That same mindset explains why low-risk, high-upside mechanics — such as casino deposit $1 get $20 – style offers — resonate with audiences who already understand probability rather than impulse.

In both cases, success depends less on emotion and more on disciplined analysis.

How Odds Reflect NASCAR Race Variables

Odds don’t exist in a vacuum. They respond to the same variables fans track every week:

• Qualifying position and starting grid
• Weather forecasts
• Manufacturer matchups
• Practice speed and long-run pace

Live race dynamics amplify this even further. A single caution, pit cycle, or tire strategy decision can shift expectations instantly, mirroring how fans adjust their own predictions mid-race.

For seasoned followers, odds often feel less like speculation and more like a numeric summary of race conditions.

Fantasy NASCAR, Simulations, and Predictive Tools

Fantasy NASCAR has played a major role in sharpening analytical thinking among fans. Lineup optimization, salary constraints, and performance projections encourage deeper engagement with statistics.

Beyond fantasy platforms, fans experiment with:

• Race simulators
• Historical trend models
• Community prediction polls
• Custom spreadsheets tracking lap averages and finishes

What matters most isn’t the format but the approach: structured thinking, pattern recognition, and constant refinement.

Why NASCAR Data Analysis Is Here to Stay

As NASCAR continues to evolve, data-driven fandom will only grow stronger. Cars may change, rules may shift, but the appetite for understanding why races unfold the way they do remains constant.

Fans who analyze data don’t replace passion — they enhance it. Knowing the numbers behind the noise adds another layer of appreciation to every green flag, caution, and checkered finish. In a sport where fractions of a second matter, informed insight has become part of the NASCAR experience itself.