The GR Corolla is not something cobbled together from old race car remnants.
Its roots may lie in the Celica GT-Four World Rally car from the end of last century, as far as pedigree is concerned, it is among today’s genuine hot hatches.
Back in the day, with Carlos Sainz Sr behind the wheel, the Celica was crowned world champion in 1990 and 1992. Five years later the Celica turbo ST205 was shunted in favour of the Corolla, with Sainz taking up with Toyota Team Europe to win the Monte Carlo Rally; the GR Corolla followed up with its first WRC victory in the Rally of New Zealand. A premium pedigree, indeed.
Fast forward to 2023 when Toyota Gazoo Racing had the GR Corolla GTS joining the GR 86, GR Supra and GR Yaris in its high-performance road-going stable. Based on the Corolla Hatch the GR is blessed with the TNGA-C platform, boosted by race-style dynamics, setting the car well apart from the rest of the family.
Featuring the same super-power 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine as the GR Yaris the GR Corolla six-speed manual is tuned to develop 221kW of power at a high-end 6500rpm and 370Nm of torque over a wide 3000-to-5550 rev spread.
Now, Gazoo has added the option of a race-bred eight-speed automatic transmission and upgraded the 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine, boosting the torque by 30Nm to 400Nm. This is fed to ground via a GR Four all-wheel drive set-up. On test was the latter, which sells for $67,990, plus ORCs, as opposed to the new Auto, costing $70,490.
Further design features include wider track front and rear, a completely overhauled suspension and styling enhancements.
As a footnote: 25 lucky owners can go one better with the special edition GR Corolla Morizo priced at $77,800 – a lightened, more torque from the turbo 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine, and track-honed hardware including semi-bucket seats and grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.
The GR Corolla comes under the Toyota Warranty Advantage, offering up to five years unlimited kilometre coverage, extending to seven years on engine and driveline.
Capped-price servicing applies to the first three years or 60,000 kilometres and each six-month/10,000km service costing $300.
STYLING
Both variants are enhanced by unique front and rear bumpers accommodating the wider track, more air ducts to improve aerodynamics (0.35Cd) and cooling, raised bonnet and unique 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance Yokohama tyres.
The GR Corolla also features a new wider front lower grille which provides improved airflow to the radiator, intercooler, brake ducts, sub-radiator and automatic transmission fluid cooler.
Triple exhaust tips leave more than a farewell sign to other road users in the wake of the GR Corolla sprinting past. They reduce exhaust back pressure and a tendency to hold up the hot hatch.
INTERIOR
Changes to the inside reflect the body’s sharp looks, while not at the expense of comfort., with creature comforts including heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control and eight-speaker premium JBL sound system.
Back in the performance mood, gains include dedicated gearshift, and centre console, aluminium pedals, manual parking brake and leather-bound steering wheel plucked from the GR Yaris.
With room for five, front seats provide good lateral support under spirited driving, with suede and synthetic leather upholstery and contrasting silver stitching. Luggage volume of the GTS is a slim 213 litres.
INFOTAINMENT.
Connectivity has gone up a notch with an 8-inch touchscreen displaying the latest Toyota multimedia system including Toyota Connected Services, paired with a digital 12.3-inch multi-information set-up and colour head-up display.
Other updates for the GR Corolla include full wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, mirroring for the multimedia system, and the inclusion of Active Noise Control which guards against unwanted disturbance through the cabin.
ENGINES/TRANSMISSIONS
The new powertrain pairs an eight-speed Gazoo Racing automatic transmission tuned to high-performance shifting on the racetrack with an upgraded version of the turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder motor.
Max power is unchanged at 221kW, while the high-revving engine is gifted with an added 30Nm of torque (400Nm), feeding all four wheels via GR Four with an auto transmission tuned to the track through sharp-shifting paddles on the steering wheel. A larger, higher-output cooling fan has reduced transmission temperatures.
SAFETY
The GR Corolla features a full bag of Toyota Safety Sense active safety tech to help with optimum occupant safety. These include intersection turn assist, thanks to improved camera and radar sensors, which pick up object and 3D motion, while extending the range of the systems used.
Automatic variants gain additional safety technology through parking support brake with object and vehicle detection and all-speed adaptive cruise control. Seven airbags take passive control.
DRIVING
With a ‘zero to 100’ time of 5.29 seconds on the way to a top speed of 230kmlh, it’s undeniable the Toyota R Corolla GTS has a lot to offer. Fuel consumption (premium unleaded) is put by the maker at 8.4 litres per 100 kilometres over the combined urban/highway cycle.
Drivers of the GR Corolla are treated to exceptional handling and cornering, courtesy of the GR-Four all-wheel drive system supported by Torsen limited-slip differentials front and rear for optimal torque distribution.
And an optimised suspension set-up, major chassis reinforcements, weight reduction and ventilated disc brakes all contribute to putting a smile on the driver’s face.
Lastly, on the ‘southern’ end of the centre console lies the GR-Four Drive Mode rotary controller. A default mode splits torque 60:40 front/rear for stability and cornering performance.
For those who prefer a rear-biased driving experience, spin the wheel to the second mode, which offers a 30:70 torque split perfect for winding roads and linear steering input.
Press for Track mode for evenly split front/rear torque distribution to optimise traction where vehicle load regularly shifts between the front and rear axles. This is best suited for driving on dirt or low-traction roads.
SUMMARY
There’s no getting over the fact that Aussie roads, generally, are not made for the GR Corolla GTS. Even the smoother surfaces treat the occupants to some jarring stuff that only gets worse as the journey goes on.
Better to leg it down to a dedicated race day at the local circuit to get the best out of a race-bred ‘Academy performance’. On the ‘mean streets’, suck it up, son.
RATINGS
Looks – 8
Performance – 8
Safety – 7
Thirst – 7
Practicality – 6
Comfort – 6
Tech – 8
Value – 7
