It’s the ultimate in plain vanilla transportation, but the familiar Toyota Corolla is about to reveal a much spicier side, the Japanese automaker revealing a high-performance GR version on Thursday evening.
Developed by Toyota’s Gazoo Racing team, the GR Corolla delivers roughly double the power of the current model. The hot hatch also gets a 6-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel-drive to make sure all that power gets to the pavement.
Set to debut as a 2023 model later this year, the GR Corolla initially will be offered in two versions, the “Core,” model and a limited-run “Circuit Edition” that adds such niceties as a carbon-fiber roof, rear spoiler and sport seats.
Unlike some key competitors, including Ford and Chevrolet, who have been walking away from sedans, coupes and hatchbacks, Toyota remains committed to its passenger car line-up. That, of course, includes the familiar Corolla line. But sales have slipped in recent years as motorists by the millions move to SUVs, CUVs and other light trucks. So, Toyota has been looking for ways to beef up the compact line.
Bringing Back Passion
The automaker introduced a crossover version of its small car mainstay, the Corolla Cross. Now, it is looking to perk up interest by adding a performance model—a strategy that has played out well for competitive offerings like the Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai Veloster N.
That might have seemed like an absurd idea not that many years back, but Toyota boss Akio Toyoda has commanded his product development teams to punch a bit more “passion” into the brand’s products. And he’s used motorsports both to develop new performance technology and put a halo around the Toyota badge with models like the GR86 and GR Supra sports cars.
The new Corolla model brings the Gazoo Racing influence to the mainstream, and it also brings back some long-missing excitement. In the 1980s, Toyota offered not only the GR 86’s spiritual ancestor, the “AE86” Corolla sport coupe made famous by the anime series Initial D, but also the peppy Corolla FX16 hatchback.
The 300 Horsepower Corolla
The GR Corolla will make plenty of power, 300 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, to be more precise, from a 1.6-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine. The engine is mated to a short-throw, rev-matching 6-speed manual, an increasing rarity in the automotive world.
The launch-year Circuit Edition also adds limited-slip Torsen differentials, front and rear, as well as beefed-up brakes.
The Gazoo team, meanwhile, has come up with an intriguing new rally-influenced GR-Four All-Wheel-Drive system which, the automaker explains, “gives drivers a choice of 60-40, 50-50, or 30-70 power distribution to the front and rear wheels.” That lets a driver choose between a more relaxed, day-to-day torque split, a setting tuned for the track, or one that’s earmarked for winding back roads.
The development team focused on several goals here: reducing drag, increasing high-speed downforce and lowering weight. There’s plenty of advanced—and lighter—high-strength steel. The hood and front door panels are made of aluminum. And, on the Circuit Edition, the roof is made of a forged, rather than woven, carbon sheet molding compound double-wishbone in the rear.
The Core model features 14-inch ventilated, opposed-piston front brakes. In back, they measure 11.7 inches. The body and chassis have been stiffened up to permit more aggressive track and rally driving. The GR Corolla rides on a MacPherson-type front strut suspension with a multi-link rear.
Advertising Speed
As Honda has done with the Civic Type R, Toyota opted for the Corolla’s hatchback body. But it gets some extensive modifications. The nose is more sculpted than the standard-issue compact, with a steeply sloped windshield and roofline channeling air to the high-mounted rear spoiler on the Circuit model. The front and rear fenders are boldly flared to accommodate the car’s revised suspension. The Core package gets a smaller lip spoiler.
The GR editions both get integrated LED headlamps and daytime running lights as standard fare. The Circuit Edition adds LED fog lamps. And there’s a unique matrix grille. The exterior changes are almost all functional, including a flat underbody and rear bumper ducts.
The GR Corolla gets a much sportier interior package than you’ll find on plebian versions. There’s a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, for starters. It features a unique-to-GR layout which, Toyota explained in a summary of features, tracks “4WD mode, turbo pressure, gear position indicator, and tachometer. The brightly lit display is designed for easy viewing in any condition and even features a start-up GR animation.”
There’s a leather-trimmed tilt/telescoping steering wheel and sportier seats. The Circuit Edition adds leather and suede-finished front sport seats, with 6-way power adjustments for the driver, 4-way adjustments for the passenger. It also adds a shift knob signed “Morizo.” That was the pseudonym used by Akio Toyoda when he joined the Gazoo Racing team at Le Mans 15 years ago.
GR Corolla: When and How Much?
The GR hatchback won’t roll off the same assembly line as mainstream versions. It’s set to be assembled at a dedicated GR production facility at Toyota’s massive Motomachi production complex in Japan. There’s no conventional assembly line, in fact, partially assembled vehicles shuttled atop automated guided vehicles.
The GR Corolla made its debut in suburban Los Angeles Thursday night. For now, Toyota says only that it will be available “later in 2022.”
Pricing for the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla has not been revealed but is expected to carry a hefty premium. The current version of the compact model range from a base $20,075 to $28,360 for the Corolla XSE Apex Edition.