GR Corolla Shows off Toyota’s Racing Prowess

Toyota has pulled out all the stops when it comes to the new variant of its popular hatchback. The 2023 GR Corolla sees Toyota’s best-selling car transformed into a true “hot hatch” with all the performance upgrades drivers have come to expect from the category. From its turbocharged engine and six-speed manual transmission to its all-wheel drive setup and aggressive styling, the GR Corolla isn’t superficial “race-inspired” trim; it’s the real deal. Toyota tapped Gazoo Racing, its in-house performance division, to design the race-ready Corolla, leaning on the team’s expertise in the world of rally cars to bring a little taste of the track to the everyday driving experience.

The GR Corolla effectively serves as a ready-made tuner car, available right here at Romeoville Toyota, your Illinois GR Corolla dealer, allowing those who have long been fascinated by World Rally Championship coverage and movies starting with the word “Fast” the chance to get away from the silver screen and behind the wheel. The 2023 GR Corolla is full of surprises, so let’s dive in, review some of the hatchback’s performance highlights and see what all the hype is about.

From Pet Project to Production Vehicle

To understand just how seriously Toyota has taken the GR Corolla project, it helps to look back at the formation of the Gazoo Racing team itself. It’s not uncommon for large automakers to have their own in-house racing and performance teams, but Toyota’s effort benefits from some personal investment at the highest reaches of the company’s corporate structure. Toyota Gazoo Racing was formed in 2007 as a team consisting of mechanics and mostly student test drivers with one notable exception: then Toyota vice-president Akio Toyoda, a longtime racing enthusiast. Akio Toyoda and Gazoo Racing competed in the 24 Hours Nürburgring in modified Lexus models, using the famously grueling race as a testing ground for its vehicles and engineering team.

When Akio Toyoda became president of the company in 2009, Gazoo Racing expanded in scope to include circuit events, and Toyota’s other motorsports outfits––Toyota Racing and Lexus Racing––were consolidated under the umbrella of Gazoo Racing. The Gazoo Racing Company was formed in 2017 with the goal of translating the lessons learned on the track into the commercial sphere, allowing Toyota to inject a little high-performance fun into its production vehicles. In 2019, the GR Supra was the first model to bear the new badge, followed by the GR Yaris in 2020 and the GR86 in 2021.

These GR-branded vehicles vary from the standard Toyota models in a number of important ways, but perhaps none more relevant than the production process itself. Models built in the GR Factory at the company’s Motomachi plant are not produced on a conveyor belt assembly line but constructed at individual stations using manual assembly techniques. This allows Toyota’s team of hand-picked engineers to ensure each model receives the care and attention it deserves and goes a long way in improving both longevity and performance.

The release of the 2023 GR Corolla had been delayed for the best possible reason: Akio Toyoda himself was dissatisfied with the level of tuning applied to the prototype. It might be novel to think of a CEO delaying a major project launch over such concerns, but the incident just speaks to Toyota’s––and Akio Toyoda’s––commitment to bringing something truly exceptional to the market.

Rally-Inspired Design

In order to amp up the hatchback’s power, Toyota lifted the 1.6-liter turbocharged G16E-GTS engine from the GR Yaris. The setup might seem modest at first, with just three cylinders and less than two liters of displacement, but the amount of power Toyota has managed to eke out of the engine goes a long way in illustrating the level of care and attention lavished on the GR project. Using larger exhaust valves and three tailpipes in order to reduce back pressure, the GR Corolla manages to produce 300 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. These numbers go a long way in illustrating the gulf between the performance-minded GR Corolla and the base 2022 Corolla Hatchback, which only manages 168 horsepower despite a larger 2.0-liter engine. It even bests the GR Yaris, which, despite having the same engine, produces 43 less horsepower. One look at the model’s massive brakes will give you an idea of how much power the GR Corolla is working with, featuring ventilated, slotted disc brakes that measure 14 inches in the front and 11.7 inches in the rear.

If you’re looking for more evidence that the GR Corolla is not some watered-down version of a true performance car, look no further than the clutch. Many automakers have shied away from offering manual transmissions as drivers seek more convenient automatic alternatives, but Toyota’s decision to buck the trend goes to show that the GR Corolla is made with a certain type of driver in mind. The hatchback features a six-speed manual transmission which, when paired with Toyota’s rev-matching technology, provides smooth, seamless shifting. Those looking to truly max out their GR Corolla experience should look into the Circuit Edition, which adds even more performance-minded upgrades to the mix, including Torsen front and rear limited-slip differentials, a lightweight carbon roof, vented hood, and matte-black rear spoiler.

From the lightweight design to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 ultra-high-performance summer tires, the GR Corolla’s rally influence is evident from the get-go, but the real game-changer is the GR-Four all-wheel drive system. Initially developed by the brand’s World Rally Championship team for use on the GR Yaris, the performance all-wheel drive system is the first of its kind in over two decades. Designed to handle a variety of surfaces, from race tracks and off-road courses to wet roads and more, the GR-Four system is eminently customizable, allowing drivers to tweak torque settings for unparalleled performance no matter the conditions. The AWD system is initially set up to provide a 60/40 percent split between the front and back wheels but can be changed to 30/70 for rear-biased handling or even 50/50 to improve traction when racing.

High-Performance Inside and Out

The exterior upgrades to the GR Corolla don’t just lend it a race-ready look. In many cases, they actually contribute to its performance as well. The hatchback’s bold, angular face isn’t just for looks; it also goes a long way in improving the Corolla’s aerodynamic profile while simultaneously directing air over the brakes through the use of functional air ducts. Toyota has made an effort to keep the GR Corolla as light as possible, opting for an aluminum hood and door panel to help keep the pounds off. The results speak for themselves, with the GR Corolla only weighing in at 99 pounds more than a Corolla XSE Apex Edition. The bodywork doesn’t stop there: Toyota also stiffened the frame and added weld points for a more rigid platform, which allows for more accurate suspension tuning. Track-tuned springs, shock absorbers, and stabilizer bars also provide an improvement over the standard Corolla setup.

Toyota hasn’t fussed too much with the interior, but the changes go a long way in upping the car’s performance profile. Gone are the standard analog gauges, replaced by a new 12.3-inch digital display that allows drivers to keep track of all the relevant performance metrics, including gear position, tachometer, AWD mode, and a boost indicator for the turbocharger. Toyota has also reduced the distance between gear positions to allow for sharper selection, and the gear knob itself contains a fun little Easter egg: it’s signed by “Morizo,” the racing moniker of Akio Toyoda. Drivers who opt for the Circuit Edition will see a host of additional interior upgrades such as suede-trimmed seats with red accents, red trim details, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The GR Corolla isn’t the first of its kind, as brands have long experimented with high-performance versions of some of their most popular models, such as the Honda Civic Type R, Subaru WRX, and Volkswagen Golf R, but Toyota is taking a decidedly different approach with the GR Corolla. While it’s easy enough for a brand to simply pump out flashy, performance versions of some of their most popular vehicles, the hatchback isn’t just a souped-up Corolla; it’s Toyota’s invitation to join the ranks of racing enthusiasts worldwide. To that end, the automaker has included a number of perks for drivers, including a free one-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association, along with expert driving instruction at a high-performance driving event. It’s these sorts of perks that really help separate the GR Corolla from the pack and almost make purchasing the hatchback feel like you’re joining Morizo’s own personal racing team.

Toyota Hasn’t Held Back

From its impressively powerful 1.6-liter turbocharged engine to the GR-Four all-wheel drive system, the GR Corolla is a hatchback that means business. Toyota hasn’t held back when it comes to integrating high-end performance components into its newest hot hatch, producing a powerful new version of the best-selling Corolla that’s sure to be a hit with casual drivers and racing enthusiasts alike. The automaker has essentially taken all the busy work out of performance tuning, giving driver’s a ready-made option that can hold its own on the track while still leaving the door open for further tweaking and personalization. It’s a fun example of just how far automakers can push the envelope when it comes to upgrading their popular base models, folding in the high-performance tweaks and components rarely seen on the consumer market. We hope this won’t be the last GR model we see from Toyota at our Illinois dealership, and given Akio Toyoda’s personal interest in the project, we suspect it won’t be.