The covers have finally come off the Toyota GR Corolla. Or at least they came off a few hours before the official launch on March 31, that is.
Images of the much anticipated hot hatch were discovered by viewers of the GR Corolla forum and posted online. The page has since been taken down. By the time you read this, the car will have been officially unveiled.
The photos reveal a hot hatch that boasts an aggressive sporty exterior inspired by the more compact GR Yaris, with flared wheel arches, accented bumpers and a huge rear spoiler.
The GR Corolla is the fourth model from Toyota’s Gazoo Racing, after the GR Supra, GR86 and the GR Yaris.
The Corolla takes the Yaris' sharp styling nuances one step further by employing black hood vents, large front wheel arch vents, and three exhaust tips.
Under the hood, the GR Corolla is powered by the GR Yaris' 1.6-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder gasoline engine. However, output has been boosted from the Yaris’ 261-hp to 300-hp and while torque is up from 265 lb-ft to 273 lb-ft. Boasting the same rally-honed 4WD system as the Yaris, the Corolla gets the same choice of Normal, Sport and Track modes that are capable of channeling up to 70 per cent of power to the rear wheels. Married to this gutsy engine is a 6-speed manual transmission with no automatic option.
This output makes the GR Corolla more powerful than rivals in the 271-hp Hyundai Veloster N, 241-hp Volkswagen Golf GTI and the 271-hp Subaru WRX. While no 0-60 mph time has been posted, the GR Corolla should be able to clear 60 mph in under 5 seconds.
Fitted as standard in the US will be what’s called "circuit-tuned suspension" boasting Michelin Pilot Sport tires on 18-inch alloy wheels.
The interior looks promising too with Toyota USA guaranteeing “a GR leather-trimmed steering wheel and unique gauge cluster,” a cabin that will borrow design hints from the GR Yaris.
The U.S. will get the GR Yaris Launch Edition, which features front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials from the GR Yaris Rallye, plus vented hood, black 18-inch wheels, a carbon-fiber roof, and Ultrasuede and synthetic leather seats.
The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla will be officially unveiled later today, so stay tuned for more detailed news of one of the best cars to arrive from Toyota in a long time.
