Hands-On with Toyota’s New GR Corolla Hot Hatch!
Gazoo Racing’s GR Corolla is a 300 horsepower, all-wheel-drive, manual-transmission, race-tuned hot hatch that weighs only 3,249 lbs!
Last week Toyota unveiled its latest Gazoo Racing special edition, the GR Corolla. We were on hand for the official launch and then snagged a short window to explore the vehicle inside and out. Before we dive into our hands-on first look, there’s still no word on pricing and we weren’t able to drive the prototype. Speaking of which, some of the final fit and finish may change as Toyota finalizes the vehicle for production.
GR Corolla Specs
Behold… YouTubers
The heart of the new GR Corolla is a 1.6L turbocharged 3-cylinder engine (not a typo), which makes 300 hp at 6,500 RPM and 273 lb.-ft. of torque between 3,000 and 5,500 RPM. Toyota engineers were able to achieve 100 hp per CYLINDER with port and direction injection and by improving efficiency and strengthening internal components.
Power travels to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission (no autos allowed) and Toyota’s GR-FOUR all-wheel-drive system, which allows drivers to select a 60-40, 50-50, or 30-70 front-to-rear torque bias. Toyota also upgraded the chassis, adding extra structural welds along with wider fenders with functional air vents, and a smoother undercarriage.
GR Corolla Core Edtion in SuperSonic Red
Black 18-inch wheels are standard and come wrapped in 235/45-18” Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. Red brake calipers are standard (4-piston front, 2-piston rear), as are slotted 14” front rotors and 11.7” rear rotors.
And all of this that, per Toyota’s spec sheet, weighs under 3,250 pounds.
What do YOU think about the GR Corolla?
Let us know HERE in our forums!
Circuit Edition
GR Corolla Circuit Edtion in Heavy Metal
Toyota plans to release two GR Corolla variants. The limited-edition Circuit Edition will hit dealerships next year (and next year only) and features the following upgrades —
- Carbon fiber roof
- Vented bulge hood
- A larger matte black rear hatch spoiler
- Brin Naub suede-trimmed sport seats with red stitching
- An Akio Toyota-signed shift knob (aka Morizo)
- Torsen front and rear differentials
- Premium JBL sound system with 8 speakers, wireless charging, and nav
- Heated front seats & steering wheel
- An analog gauge cluster
Who wants carbon with their fiber?
GR Corolla Circuit Edition color options include Supersonic red, white, and the exclusive Heavy Metal grey which you can see in this post/above video.
Core Edition
Matte black rear valence on the Core Edition
If you don’t want to wait or don’t need a carbon-fiber roof, the Core Edition may be for you. It’s also available in Supersonic Red and white. And the third color option is black. From a drivetrain perspective, the Core Edition has all of the power and all-wheel-drive goodies from the Circuit, but open differentials are standard (Boo). On the inside of the Core Edition, you’ll find a digital gauge cluster, sport bucket seats with white stitching and slightly less bolstering as well as a 6-speaker stereo system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Gloss black rear valance on the Circuit Edition
But if you’d like a little more Circuit goodies in your Core, there’s great news. Opt for the Performance Package to get the front and rear Torsen differentials. Snag the Cold Weather Package for the heated steering wheel and front seats. And buy the Technology package for the upgraded JBL sound system.
A tale of two interiors… Left: Core, Right: Circuit
So outside of the hood, roof, and rear spoiler, you can spec a Core Edition pretty close to the Circuit Edition.
First Impressions
As mentioned above, I haven’t driven the GR Corolla, but am very much looking forward to some seat time. 300 ponies in a 3,249-pound car with seating for four adults is a pretty great recipe. Speaking of seating, the sport buckets in both cars are excellent. And, as a 6-foot tall person, I was able to sit behind myself in the backseat with relative comfort. To be fair, I wouldn’t want to drive cross-country in the back seat, but for a night out on the town, it wouldn’t be a problem. And unlike most sports coupes, there’s plenty of headroom and enough volume for a full set of track tires if you fold down the rear seats.
There’s also a racecar version for Formula Drift!
Overall, and very dependent on pricing (including how much dealers try to scalp their customers), the GR Corolla looks like it could be a terrific hot hatch that’s actually affordable. Stay tuned for more coverage.
