Toyota’s latest fire-breathing GR model will land in Australia this month, with the GR Corolla joining the GR86, GR Supra, and GR Yaris in the high-performance family.
Toyota Australia says it has secured 700 units of the GR Corolla GTS for sale in the first year, which will be joined by a limited run of the two-seater Morizo Edition, of which just 25 will be available.

GR Corolla features a turbocharged petrol engine, all-wheel drive, wider track front and rear, completely overhauled suspension, and design features and styling enhancements that clearly set it apart from the rest of the Corolla family.

That engine is a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine also found in the GR Yaris, and has been tuned to produce a boosted 221kW of power at 6500rpm and 370Nm of torque over a wider rev band, from 3000-5550rpm. The improved output has been achieved, Toyota says, thanks to enhancements such as the triple-exit exhaust which reduces back pressure, reinforced pistons and exhaust valves, and increased capacity for the direct-injection fuel pump and engine oil cooler. The Morizo Editions will get something a little extra, with Toyota saying it will squeeze 30Nm from the engine.

All GR Corollas come equipped with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission with intelligent rev-matching technology.

The GR Corolla gets the GR-FOUR all-wheel-drive system, supported with Torsen limited-slip differentials on both the front and rear axles. Chassis reinforcements, weight reduction and dedicated ventilated disc brakes help deliver on performance and driving experience, with the Morizo Edition offering even further weight reduction and structural reinforcement.

On the outside, the GR Corolla gets unique front and rear bumpers to accommodate the wider track, additional air ducts to enhance aerodynamics and cooling, a special triple-exit exhaust system, raised hood and unique 18-inch alloy wheels shod with high-performance Yokohama tyres.

Morizo Editions gain their own 18-inch BBS forged, dark silver alloys with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, as well as a carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) roof.
Inside, all versions gain a dedicated gear shifter and centre console, aluminium pedals, manual parking brake and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

There’s an 8-inch touchscreen display housing the latest Toyota multimedia system including Toyota Connected Services, paired with a 12.3-inch multi-information display and colour head-up display. The touchscreen is compatible with wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, features DAB+ digital radio and satellite navigation. There’s also heated front seats and steering wheel, a wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control and an eight-speaker JBL premium sound system. A full suite of Toyota Safety Sense active safety technologies features in the GR Corolla.

Together with the removal of the rear seats to save weight, the Morizo Edition is differentiated inside with unique bucket front seats with contrast red stitching, red seatbelts, suede trim for the steering wheel, gear shifter and parking brake, a red centre marker for the steering wheel and alumite red trim on the shift knob.
Pricing for the GR Corolla will see the GTS available at $62,300 and the MNorizo Edition at $77,800 (prices excluding on-road costs).

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (Mar 2023)

24 March 2023