For two years we—and the rest of the enthusiast community—have been begging Toyota to import the GR Yaris. The idea of a rally-inspired Toyota hot hatch seemed too good to be true. And that one was, at least for us: Toyota has been clear for a long time that the GR Yaris won't be coming to the U.S. market. There's still good news for rally-obsessed Americans: Toyota has just unveiled the GR Corolla, which we'll be getting here, and it looks like it's going to be great.
While the GR Yaris is based on a European-market car we don't get, the GR Corolla gets just about all of the same goodies, including that boosty, rev-happy three-cylinder turbo. Toyota even gave the U.S.-market car 32 extra horsepower to compensate for the Corolla's increased weight. Total power rises to 300 hp at 6500 rpm, with peak torque of 273 lb-ft available between 3000 and 5500 rpm. Drivers will have to stay on their game to keep the car on power, as the GR Corolla comes exclusively with a manual transmission.
The trick, rally-inspired all-wheel-drive system also makes its U.S. debut in the GR Corolla. Drivers can adjust the torque split via the drive mode selector, with 60:40 front/rear split in Normal mode, a rear-biased 30:70 in Sport, and 50:50 in Track mode. Option the Performance Package or choose the first-year-only Circuit Edition and you also get limited-slip differentials front and rear, which should enable phenomenal loose-surface slides and serious corner exit speeds.
The sole tire choice is the Michelin Pilot Sport 4. Braking comes from a pair of 14-inch slotted rotors with 4-piston calipers up front and 11.7-inch ventilated rotors with 2-piston calipers out back. As with the GR Yaris, the front suspension is via MacPherson struts, while the rear is a double wishbone design.
All GR Corollas benefit from increased chassis stiffness thanks to additional welds and structural adhesive, with a weight-saving carbon roof available as part of the Circuit Edition. The GR Corolla will be built alongside the GR Yaris at a specialized Gazoo Racing facility, though the underpinnings of the two vehicles differ. The GR Yaris uses a blended platform made from the base Yaris's GA-B chassis up front and the wider GA-C chassis (found on Corolla and CH-R) at the rear. The GR Corolla, by comparison, is GA-C platform through and through, albeit with substantial modifications over the standard Corolla.
Visually, the GR Corolla has a unique grille, aggressive bumpers, flared fenders front and rear, extra cooling ducts, gloss black exterior trim, a wider track, GR badges, and a spoiler. A carbon roof, hood bulge, LED fog lamps, and unique spoiler all distinguish the Circuit Edition, which has special suede and leather upholstery, red accents, and a shift knob signed by Akio Toyoda (under his racing alias, “Morizo”) inside. An eight-inch screen with Toyota's newest infotainment system is the focal point of the interior on all grades. CarPlay, Android Auto, radar cruise control, and lane keeping are standard. Those who want an upgraded JBL audio system and wireless charging can opt for the Premium Package or Circuit Edition. Oh, and as an added enthusiast bonus, all GR Corollas have a manual handbrake.
We won't know how the GR Corolla stacks up until we drive it. But given our impression of the GR Yaris, hopes are high. The only big question left is price. Toyota hasn't announced pricing yet, but expect that info to drop in the coming months as Toyota gears up to start deliveries of the U.S.-market GR Corolla later this year.
