Toyota has unveiled the new GR Corolla, a bigger brother to the much-loved GR Yaris hot hatch and designed to take on the likes of the Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf R.
Rally-inspired looks
The new Corolla has been reworked by Toyota's Gazoo Racing performance division, and even from the start the looks are a lot more purposeful with a much bigger grille for more cooling and wheelarches extended to accommodate a wider track and new 18-inch alloy wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres. It's actually at the back, however, where the key to the GR Corolla's performance lies.
Reworked exhaust
The GR Corolla is powered by the same 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine as the GR Yaris, but instead of the Yaris's 261hp, the Corolla gets 299hp, mostly down to a new three-branch exhaust with a differently-shaped central exit. Toyota says that this reduces back-pressure, allowing the engine to develop more power. Other features too such as larger exhaust valves and a machined intake port are said to increase the GR Corolla's power output, though final performance figures have yet to be released.
That power is sent to the four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox with a rev-matching feature for smoother downshifts, and the bias of power between the front and rear wheels can be electronically adjusted. Put it in Normal mode and there'll be a 70/30 power split favouring the front wheels; in Sport mode, that flips with 70 per cent of the power going to the rear; in Circuit mode, distribution is 50/50.
Along with the manual gear shifter, the interior also gets an old-fashioned handbrake "to allow better vehicle control when pushing the car to its limits, such as when drifting", according to the company. That's accompanied by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster displaying useful titbits such as driving mode, turbo boost pressure and gear position. For all its performance upgrades though, the Corolla still retains its rear doors and rear seating, making it a more practical proposition than the GR Yaris.
Circuit Edition
On the top rung of the GR Corolla ladder sits the Circuit Edition. Although the overall weight of the GR Corolla is down to 1,474kg thanks to lighter materials used throughout, the Circuit Edition takes this down further with a carbon-fibre roof panel and an aluminium bonnet (vented) and doors. The Circuit Edition also gets front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials as standard. As well as the performance upgrades the Circuit Edition's interior will feature suede-trimmed seats and a gear-knob signed by "Morizo", the racing alter-ego of Toyota's president, Akio Toyoda.
Toyoda was instrumental in the development of the GR Corolla having said that he wanted the company to "bring back a Corolla that captivates our customers". Toyota also entered a hydrogen-powered prototype of the GR Corolla in Japan's Super Taikyu endurance racing series with Toyoda taking stints behind the wheel and contributing feedback.
Not for Europe
Sadly, it appears that the GR Corolla won't be making it to Europe. Toyota has previously said that it would only sell three GR models in any one market and given that Europe already gets the GR Yaris, GR Supra and new GR86, the Corolla regrettably won't be coming here.