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The GR Corolla is Toyota with immense talent. But we look into that one feature that makes it stand out.
Car enthusiasts in the United States were extremely upset that Toyota wouldn't introduce the GR Yaris in North Amercia. However, since we were aching for a special hot hatch from the Japanese automaker, their prayers have finally been answered in the form of the first-ever 2023 GR Corolla: a Toyota that thinks it's a supercar-slayer.
With a racing team as dedicated as Toyota's Gazoo division, this is an important addition to Toyota's line-up of sports cars that deliver immensely on the performance and handling front, without forgetting the importance of practicality.
The new Toyota GR Corolla is powered a compact and powerful G16E-GTS turbocharged engine that packs a lot of power and tuning potential. It has been designed and developed to accelerate with a sense of urgency a lot of cars couldn't possibly match, with the ability to redline at the 6,500 rpm mark.
If power that gives you goosebumps is anything to go by, piped through a distinct triple exhaust, the GR Corolla is sure to have you fall head over heels for one.
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Paired with Toyota's rally developed GR-Four All-Wheel-Drive drivetrain, the GR Corolla wants you to know it can stick to the tarmac like a leech through the corners with loads of grip on offer. For drivers who love automatics - well, there isn't going to be one, because the Japanese brand is selling it exclusively with a manual gearbox; Toyota says they want to stick to their hardcore rally racing roots, and that's should bode perfectly well for enthusiasts.
This is no ordinary Toyota to look at, being built on Toyota's GA-C platform. It also includes improved frame reinforcements, made particularly for the GR Corolla at the GR factory. We'll be coming to all the functional exterior air vents and aerodynamic bits that contribute towards steering stability in a bit. The car's available in two grades: Core and Circuit Edition.
Toyota Gazoo's high-performance cars come with a strong motorsport background, and when a production, road-ready GR Corolla is made, the drivetrain instantly demands attention because of rally-inspired characteristics. The best feature of the Toyota Corolla GR is its GR-Four All-Wheel-Drive system, which happens to be the company's first-ever sports all-wheel-drive system in over two decades.
It has been produced jointly with the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally team, honed further by its WRC drivers - and the result is traction that will have you question the levels of the traction and control that are designed to optimize drive power to each wheel without being too heavy.
Developed with rally intentions, the all-wheel-drive system is made to take on conditions of all kinds. It could be dirt, gravel, snow, rain or a regular drive down the mountain road, the system also allows for adjustability.
All it takes is a twist of a dial, and the GR Corolla will tweak the four-wheel-drive performance so it can fit the driver's and the surface requirements. For example - for the daily use - you can set a front/rear torque distribution of 60:40, and if a sporting situation demands, the balance can shift to the back for more fun. The 50:50 setting lets you take it to the track, and give it a belting.
Every mode ensures that the torque balance will adjust according to the driver's inputs, the car's behavior on the track and the road. If you opt for the Circuit Edition, the car gets front and rear Torsen Limited-Slip Differential, which result in improved cornering performance and grip with a control over left and right-hand drive torque distribution on the front and rear axles. This is a part of the Performance Pack on the Core grade, along with standard 4WD open differentials.
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Not only is the GR Corolla hot in terms of performance, but also in terms of styling. It's among the coolest-looking cars in its class. Up-front, it features a blacked-out grille, along with functional air ducts on either side. The Circuit Grade model's front grille is gloss black and features LED fog lights. Auto on/off LED headlights and LED DRLs come standard on both models.
The flared fenders, the bulge on the hood and the gloss-black air ducts give it the muscle you see. The carbon fiber roof blends well with the roof-mounted shark fin antenna. The rear wing on the car gives it width, and adds aggression.
Everything inside the GR Corolla's interior tells you you're sitting in a ridiculously fast car. It's a cockpit in every sense of the word, not a cabin. The driver gets a fully digital 12.3-inch Multi-Information Display for the instrument cluster. It offers information like a GR meter with a 4WD mode, turbo pressure, gear position indicator and a tachometer. The shift lever has a shortened stroke, resulting in a quick throw between gears. The GR Corolla features a pull-type mechanical parking brake.
The GR Corolla uses the same turbocharged G16E-GTS engine from the GR Yaris, and quite obviously, results in better output. The compact, 3-cylinder engine makes more power in the GR Corolla because of its enhanced engine exhaust efficiency and a three-piece muffler with a valve capped-off and brushless stainless steel tips.
Motorsport tech like multi-oil jet piston cooling, large-diameter exhaust valves and a part-machined intake port result in 300hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. The lightweight engine is mated to a 6-speed intelligent manual transmission. If there's a Toyota you thought was boring, this certainly isn't one of them.
Rehan got published for the first time at the age of 17, having written a feature on a Triumph Herald in print. He uses his writing as a tool to express his fondness for all things automotive even today, aged 28. Collecting scale models is a hobby close to his heart, and he wishes to sprinkle pixie dust on them only to see them grow into full-sized cars. He now represents HotCars.com.