In 2007, Toyota made a decision that would change the company forever. It competed in the 24 Hours Nürburgring, a famous annual endurance race winding through the heart of a thick German forest.
With a limited budget and team, Toyota threw two cars into the ring — and both finished the race. This accomplishment was the beginning of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, a sports car development team built on the foundations of challenge and change. And 15 years later, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is ready to introduce its first wholly developed and manufactured model for the North American market — the GR Corolla.
Unlike its sedan sibling, the GR Corolla is built for speed, performance, and thrills. But with its specialized engine, unique drivetrain options, and brand-new multimedia and safety systems, the GR Corolla isn’t just a sports car. It’s a vehicle unlike any other previously offered, giving us a look at technologies that will soon be implemented in other Toyotas.
The GR Corolla won’t be on sale until fall 2022. But until then, let’s take a sneak peek at its offerings.
An enduring engine
The engine is any vehicle’s heart, and this heart beats fast. The GR Corolla has a G16E-GTS turbocharged three-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower, 273 lb.-ft of torque, and up to 6500 rpm. The engine pulls this off thanks to its design, including a special muffler that helps reduce exhaust pressure and noise.
It isn’t just the muffler that makes this engine great. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing implemented other motorsport technologies, too, like multi-oil jet piston cooling, large-diameter exhaust valves, and a part-machined intake port. With these assets, the GR Corolla is ready to pull tight corners with a punch of power.
A specialized all-wheel-drive system
Most vehicles have one or two driving systems: two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. But the GR Corolla offers something new — GR-FOUR All-Wheel-Drive, which gives you three different torque distribution options.
The first front/rear distribution is 60:40 for average driving. The second is 30:70, which shifts torque to the back for improved brakes and turns on winding roads and circuits. The last is 50:50, optimal for fast, competitive driving. The balance will adjust automatically based on driver inputs, vehicle behavior, and road conditions, but drivers can also change it manually with the twist of a dial.
Additionally, the GR Corolla can come with front and rear Torsen Limited Slip-Differentials. This left and right-hand torque distribution control, not just front and back, helps the vehicle turn tight corners and grip the road.
An aerodynamic body
It isn’t just the engine and drivetrain that work hard to make the GR Corolla speedy. It’s also the vehicle’s body itself.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing built the GR Corolla with two goals in mind — saving weight while retaining strength and minimizing wind drag. It accomplished both. One trim option, the Circuit Edition, has a roof made of forged carbon sheet molding. This material is lighter than steel and lowers the car’s center of gravity without losing any durability.
The GR Corolla is also sleek enough for speed. Its nose ascends to a tapering roofline, and the shaping of the front and rear panels channel airflow down the sides of the vehicle. Hood, fender, and rear bumper air ducts, as well as a flat underside, reduce drag even more.
Two trim options
Two is always better than one — at least, that’s what the GR Corolla thinks. It has two different trim levels to give you more options, although both have manual transmission to respect the vehicle’s racing roots.
The first is the Core Grade, which comes in white, black, and Supersonic Red. It includes several features, like:
- A color-keyed roof
- A black rear lip spoiler
- GR-Four stamped side rocker panels beneath the doors
- Fender flares
- GR-logoed fabric sport seats
- Seating for five
The second is the Circuit Edition, exclusive to the 2023 GR Corolla. It comes in white, Supersonic Red, and Heavy Metal. The Circuit Edition includes or updates everything the Core Grade has, including:
- A forged carbon fiber roof
- A vented hood
- A sporty rear spoiler
- Brin Naub® suede-trimmed red-accented sport seats
- An available eight-speaker JBL® Premium Audio system
- A Morizo signed shift knob
Morizo is the name that Toyota Motor Corporation President (and master driver) Akio Toyoda uses when he’s behind the wheel.
An all-new multimedia system
Like the multimedia system in many Toyota models, you can connect any phone to your car’s speakers and screen using Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, or a USB cord. You can also opt into a Wi-Fi Connect subscription, which gives you onboard 4G connectivity for up to five devices. It also lets you use the new Integrated Streaming feature, where you can link and use your Apple Music® and Amazon Music subscriptions through the vehicle’s touchscreen — no phone required!
Other connected services come with automatic trial periods. The GR Corolla comes with a 1-year trial of Safety Connect, which includes an Emergency Assistance Button, 24/7 Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Locator, and Collision Assistance. It also includes a 3-year trial of Service Connect, which gives you Vehicle Health Reports, Maintenance Alerts, and service reminders.
A new and improved safety system
TSS 3.0 takes everything that TSS 2.5 had and makes it even better. The Pre-Collision System can now detect motorcyclists and guardrails in certain conditions, for example, and its new cameras refine the program’s lane-detecting sensors to improve Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist.
The GR Corolla also includes safety features that aren’t always standard on other Toyotas. One is the Blind Spot Monitor, which warns you about vehicles approaching in adjacent lanes. Another is Rear Cross Traffic Alert, which gives you an audible and visual warning when cars come near you while backing out. Last are the Rear Seat Reminders, which can tell if the rear seat doors are properly closed, and Hill Start Assist Control, which stops the vehicle from rolling backward when starting on a hill.