At a time of forced electrification of the zero-emission oriented automobile and autonomous driving, Toyota – the 1is world manufacturer – allows itself to do nothing like the others. The Japanese brand, via its sports department Gazoo Racing, presents a super thermal GTi, as we like them: 304 hp power and 370 Nm of torque, manual gearbox and handbrake, all-wheel drive with adjustable front/rear distribution, really “bad ass” body kit and… three tailpipes! Her name ? The Toyota GR Corolla. But we are not likely to see it in Europe because of ecological malus.
Power 4
It was in 2007 that Toyota expanded its car development activities by deciding to participate in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. However, as an unofficial activity of Toyota, the team was called Gazoo Racing and was made up of employees, including Akio Toyoda (then Vice President of Toyota) driving under the alias “Morizo”. With a limited budget, the newly named team entered the race with two Height second hand. Despite the adversity, both cars finished the race, launching a new era of motorsport and Toyota-badged sports product development. As the first model fully developed and manufactured by Toyota Gazoo Racing for the North American market, GR Corolla continues this spirit.
With professional pilots, experts and “Morizo” at the wheel, the GR Corolla has been repeatedly tested at some of Japan’s major circuits including Fuji Speedway, Suzuka and Tsukuba Circuit. In addition, the GR team performed intensive dirt and snow driving with a driver from the Japanese Rally Championship.
The GR Corolla comes to join the GR Supra A90 (read our reviews here and to be), Yaris GR (read our review here) and GR 86 (read here). This range of sports meets the wishes of the boss of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, also a driver, to offer real sports cars. To help achieve the performance goals of the GR Corolla, Toyota set up a department Gazoo Racing dedicated at its production facility in Motomachi, Japan. It is the cradle of Lexus LFA and Supra A80 and now houses the first GR production line, where the GR Corolla and the GR Yaris are built.
The GR Corolla takes over the GA-C platform from Toyota, with improved chassis reinforcements developed specifically for it, widened tracks +20 mm at the front and +30 mm at the rear. Functional exterior air vents and aerodynamic developments contribute to steering stability. The Toyota GR Corolla will be available in two versions, “Core” and “Circuit Edition”.
The “Core” version will be available in white, black and “supersonic red”, with color-keyed roof, black rear spoiler, side skirts stamped “GR-Four” and wide fender flares, sport seats in cloth with GR logo .
The “Circuit Edition” version will be a limited-edition model available only in 2023. The colors offered are white, “supersonic red” and “heavy metal grey” with the same body kit as the “Core”. Added to this are a forged (rather than woven) carbon fiber roof, vented bulge hood and prominent rear spoiler, sport seats trimmed in Brin Naub suede with red accents and a signature ‘Morizo’ gear knob. launch year exclusive.
Note that the GR Corolla Circuit Edition is also fitted with Torsen limited-slip differentials (LSD) front and rear, benefiting improved cornering performance and grip, with torque distribution control left and right and front and rear axles . Front and rear LSD is available as an option in the Performance Pack on the Core version.
Corolla “Bad Ass”
It is powered by the three-cylinder G16E-GTS turbocharged direct injection engine from the GR Yaris (261 hp / 360 Nm / 175 g / CO2 km), which here develops a power of 304 hp (at 6,500 rpm) for 370 Nm of torque (between 3,000 and 5,500 rpm). This block features multiple oil jet piston cooling, large diameter exhaust valves, a partially machined intake port and a unique triple exhaust has been engineered to reduce back pressure and get the maximum power.
The turbocharger is integrated into the exhaust manifold, reducing weight, while wastegate bypass throttle control is used to improve catalyst preheating efficiency.
The G16-E engine is paired with the GR-Four All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) transmission developed by Toyota – for rallying (WRC) – allowing the distribution of power and torque between the front and rear axles to be adjusted: 60-40% (sportier setting with sliding), 50-50% (circuits and special stages) or 30 -70% (winding roads and circuits). In each mode, the torque balance will automatically adjust to driver demands, vehicle behavior and road or track conditions.
The Toyota GR Corolla will be offered exclusively in a 6-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT) and manual handbrake, remaining true to motorsport.
The front suspension is MacPherson type with coil springs, shock absorbers and adjustable stabilizer bars. The rear suspension uses a multi-link, double-wishbone system. The 18-inch 15-spoke gloss black alloy wheels are shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 235/40R18 tires. Braking is entrusted to grooved and ventilated discs of 355 mm with 4-piston calipers at the front and 280 mm with 2 pistons at the rear. The aluminum calipers are painted red with GR logo on the Circuit Edition version.
The GR Corolla is 175 kg heavier than the Yaris GRor 1475 kg on the scale. Toyota still emphasized weight saving with the use of aluminum for the hood and front door panels, the roof made of a forged carbon sheet molding compound.
Race-inspired interior
Inside the GR Corolla, we find a GR Full TFT meter with a 12.3-inch multi-information (MID) color screen that has a monometer with 4WD mode, turbo pressure, gear position indicator and tachometer. The gear lever has a shortened stroke for quick shifting between gears. The driver’s seat is 6-way adjustable and the front passenger’s seat is 4-way. Standard on both versions are push-button start/stop, aluminum sport pedals, two USB charging ports, 12V auxiliary power outlet, illuminated footpegs. Like all Toyotathe GR Corolla is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0): pre-collision detection with pedestrians/two-wheelers/vehicles, lane departure warning with steering assistance and lane following assistance (Dynamic Radar Cruise Control – DRCC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), etc.
At last, Toyota USA offers each customer a free one-year membership in the National Auto Sport Association, with a driving course supervised by expert instructors. This gift is used on average by 70% of product buyers Gazoo Racing.
Source CP Toyota USAgti
