Toyota Australia says the forthcoming GR Corolla will have the performance and handling to match several well-known rival hot hatches when it arrives in the final quarter of 2022.
The GR Corolla will be the fourth GR sports-car model to be launched in Australia, joining the GR Supra, GR Yaris and the upcoming GR86.
The motorsport engineers at Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) have created an exciting sports car with extraordinary performance to match the GR Yaris, which was developed based on Toyota’s World Rally Championship Yaris.
The GR Corolla will carry the same powertrain – the 1.6 litre three-cylinder with single scroll turbo-and All Wheel Drive system that features in the GR Yaris. As the GR Corolla is slightly heavier and larger than the Yaris, the DOHC 12 valve engine, has been uprated to 224kW and 370Nm of torque.
While the GR Yaris and GR Supra were essentially all new cars from ground up, the GR Corolla is built on the TNGA-C platform and has much of the space and refinement of a standard Corolla.
Where it differs is in the performance and handling. As well as the 1.6 turbo, the GR Corolla will sport a six-speed manual transmission that automatically matches engine revs to the gear selected, a MacPherson strut front suspension and double wishbone rear suspension.
As with the GR Yaris, the GR Corolla will have the GR FOUR permanent All Wheel Drive system. However, with the GR Corolla, the system’s 4WD mode, that controls the driving force distribution, and its ‘drive’ mode, which controls accelerator response, steering and others have been separated to enable selection according to driver preference and environment.
Rounding out its performance credentials the GR Corolla will feature a front and rear Torsen Limited Slip Differential like the GR Yaris.
More information on the GR Corolla will be released locally closer to the launch.
