Toyota Unveiled An Eye-Catching New Corolla
If Toyota's typical Corolla doesn't do it for you, then look at the new eye-catching one that is about to launch.
This article is more than 2 years old
Following the success of the revived Supra sports car, Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division has applied a similar treatment to their compact hatchback to create the 2023 GR Corolla and the limited-run Circuit Edition. Introduced on March 31st, the new vehicle is primarily for the North American market with Europe getting the GR Yaris. Both models are assembled at a factory inside the Japanese Motomachi plant, a production line dedicated to GR-branded offerings.
According to Car Expert, Toyota will build more than 8500 GR Corolla’s in its first year of production, with more than 6500 headed for the United States. The remaining units will be sold in the rest of the world, including Japan and Australia. A drip-feed of cars has always been part of the car manufacturer’s playbook. The GR Supra was initially sold through a lottery, and the GR Yaris was released in batches due to limited supply. The same rules will apply to the eye-catching new car.
Speaking with Road and Track at the car’s launch, Toyota Vice President of marketing Mike Tripp said the company doesn’t want to flood the market. “I wouldn’t say the limiting factor on these vehicles is our ability to produce them,” he told the publication. “It’s being very careful to make sure that we maintain the niche credibility.”
Much like the GR Yaris, the Toyota GR Corolla is powered by the 1.6-liter G16E-GTS turbocharged straight-three engine that will generate 300 horsepower and 370Nm of torque. Peak power comes on tap at 6500rpm, and peak torque is available between 3000 and 5500rpm. To achieve this increased power output, the vehicle’s engine uses larger exhaust valves and three tailpipes for reduced backpressure.
All this power from Toyota is sent to the road through a GR-Four all-wheel-drive system. It also boasts a six-speed manual transmission which is a standard feature in the GR Corolla. An electronic multi-plate clutch is used to control the torque split between the axles, and there are Torsen limited-slip differentials on both axles. The rear axle can take up to 70 percent of the engine’s torque, Car Expert reports.
Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of advanced driver-assistance systems and the automaker’s updated audio multimedia system that debuted on the XK70 series Tundra. The GR Corolla is 72.9 inches wide due to a rather aggressive body makeover. But the wheelbase remains unchanged at 103.9 inches. Although the bodywork adds an inch-and-a-half to the regular Corolla, the space is filled by 18-inch cast alloy wheels, with a gloss finish and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4 235/40R18 tires, according to CNet.
The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla will be available in two grades. This includes the standard Core model and the limited-run Circuit Edition. The latter comes with a forged carbon roof that’s lighter than the standard steel top, which helps lower the hatchback’s center of mass. A heavy metal satin finish paint is exclusive to the Circuit Edition and comes in white or Supersonic Red. The inside is fitted with suede-trimmed sports seats alongside red accents. And perhaps the most desirable extra is a shift knob signed by Morizo – Toyota’s master driver and President Akio Toyoda.
Toyota has not revealed pricing for the GR Corolla at this time. And its performance, technology, and cold weather packages have not yet been announced either. But the highly anticipated vehicle is due to arrive at dealerships later this year.
