[ExpatObserver]

Drivetrain parts strength - keep costs down on engineering to survive 230kmh, rather than 250kmh for example.

Nothing to do with any country's speed limit, so that can be eliminated as the reason. The limiter cutoff is well above those.

Most likely to ensure the longevity of something.
Drivetrain?
The occupants?
Toyota's reputation for being sensible?
A bit of all those?

We'll doubtless find the answer in time.

 

[ExpatObserver]

Have to be honest I'm a bit confused about the desire to release a possible couple of more mph from a short wheel base brick thats best work is probably between 60 and 120 mph and is probably getting near it's realistic(for wheel base) terminal velocity at 143? Even more so in the UK to be fair even when tracking regularly there can't be many times you are running out of top end? No expert but that's my take on it all but I guess looking at the money some people throw at their cars it's an obsession more than a requirement! ?

It will certainly be interesting to see what speed increase is achieved once the limiter is disabled.
Looking at the rate of acceleration the limited car is achieving on the autobahn in sixth gear at the point that the limiter cuts in, IMHO the increase could be significant.

Of course, there is no highly similar car to base guesses on but as a rough example the BMW 128ti achieves 155 MPH.
It has similar power, wheelbase and is heavier. Not sure of its drag coefficient.

Agree completely that for many, the Yaris is primarily a very capable B road blaster and that is the use that lots of us will put it to. Me included.

But, depending on where you live, the capability to call on 150 MPH plus performance in certain motorway situations on the way to or from the B roads would be very useful on occasion.

If this could be achieved it would be yet another great feature of the Yaris. Especially for owners who have been used to driving high speed capable cars but wish to own a Yaris as their only car now.

As always, each to their own. Track it, hammer it through B road corners, attack gravel tracks or sprint down a motorway section from time to time. The Yaris is a multifaceted car which is attracting all kinds of drivers.

Personally I will be watching with great interest how the first users of the speed limiter defeat get on, but do understand if that's not relevant for everyone's use case.

There are a few intriguing possibilities as to why Toyota chose 230 KPH. Those in themselves might be of interest to all of us.

Everything from aerodynamic instability or drivetrain longevity to preservation of GR Supra sales ?

 

[ExpatObserver]

Tested my GRY CP up To 240km/h
Was crazy, fast and really fun!
But not need to go faster in this car! ?

Just a fraction under 150 MPH
Knew it could do it!
Your instinct was that it might be getting close to unstable I'd bet??

 

[ExpatObserver]

I am pretty sure the car was limited so that it was not faster than the GR Supra.. As I think that car is limited to 155 MPH and I am sure the Yaris would go faster than 155 de restricted.

Good point. We've all seen that before.
Porsche Cayman vs basic 911

Will add "preservation of GR Supra sales" to the growing list of possibilities for the GRY speed limiter ?

 

[ExpatObserver]

Interesting comments about the wheelbase, the presumption being that this makes the GR liable to be skittish at speed.

The GR's wheelbase is 110mm longer than even a 992 generation 911, and no-one questions their high speed stability

Yup, +1
Not the wheelbase.

 

[ExpatObserver]

Is that not the limit on all German cars?

?

 

[ExpatObserver]

We don't have our car yet but I have been reading the manual online (sad I know). Interesting to see that on the list of recommended change up speeds for max acceleration it advises changing up to 6th at 140mph. I thought the speed limit of the car was set by the rev limiter in 6th but doesn't seem then that that is the case. All academic though as this is not a car we will be taking to the autobahn and I would never do these speeds in the UK

Completely academic of course but I'd bet that many on this forum would like to know why Toyota decided on 230 KPH / 143 MPH

In 6th gear the car is still accelerating when the speed limit cuts in. From the look of it, well before power output and the forces acting against that reach equilibrium.
Rev limit in 6th is not a factor.