TOYOTA GR COROLLA

Famed for bringing the heat to standard Toyota models, the Gazoo Racing sub-brand has added the fire-breathing GR Corolla to the growing TGR line-up that includes the GR86, GR Yaris, and the visually updated GR Supra, now also available with a manual transmission.

Toyota fans will remember the heady days in the late 1980s and early 1990s when hot hatches were all the rage, and Toyota birthed locally developed performance hatches such as the Conquest RSi with its 100 kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder Twin Cam engine. 

While a moratorium on the further development of such high-performance cars disallowed Toyota South Africa from continuing this legacy beyond the last Conquest RSi that rolled off the brand’s local plant in 1993, local buyers never lost their appetite for these pocket rockets.

In 2021, Toyota’s powerful hatch legacy returned with the introduction of the Gazoo Racing Yaris, and from July this year, the turbocharged all-wheel-drive GR Corolla is also available locally, although in very limited numbers.

LOOKS THAT THRILL

Born on the rally field, the GR Corolla is the product of Toyota’s international motorsport prowess, and features a wider track front and rear, wholly overhauled suspension, and design features and styling enhancements that set it apart from the rest of the Corolla range.

Underpinned by the acclaimed TNGA-C platform – significantly enhanced for high-performance driving dynamics – the GR Corolla’s exterior design also sees multiple changes compared to the Corolla hatch for a more dynamic appearance and improved performance, aerodynamics, and handling.

Wider front and rear wheel arches (by 20 mm and 30 mm, respectively) show off the car’s wide and low stance, and an increased track (60 mm at the front and 90 mm at the rear) also improves grip and road-holding.

There’s a thoroughly revised front end with Gazoo Racing’s signature blacked-out Functional Matrix grille embossed with a ‘G’ mesh pattern, signifying it as a member of the GR performance family. Sweeping daytime running lights surround LED headlights with automatic high beams, while the range-topping Circuit model also receives functional air vents on the bonnet to help dissipate heat from the engine. A new rear diffuser surrounds the GR Corolla’s iconic triple-exit exhaust system that not only looks striking but also helps to reduce exhaust backpressure and improve engine output. 

On that note, the GR Corolla’s turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder petrol engine is based on the same engine powering the GR Yaris, although it has been modified to deliver increased peak outputs of 221 kW at 6,500 rpm and 360 Nm from 3,000 to 5,550 rpm. Toyota employed multiple technologies from its motorsport experience to achieve such high outputs from a compact engine without compromising reliability.

GR INTERIOR

Key features and specification upgrades to the interior reflect the GR’s performance intentions, including a new three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel adapted from the GR Yaris, and a redesigned centre console with a new gear lever emblazoned with the GR logo. The console trim, manual parking brake, and shift gate are upholstered in leather with contrast silver stitching. By replacing the centre console box with an open tray with USB-C and 12V ports, two cupholders and a wireless phone charger, Toyota ensures unobstructed operation of the short-throw manual shifter.

Also carried over from the GR Yaris are aluminium pedals and heated sports seats upholstered in suede and leather, with a special two-tone black and red, or black and white colour scheme.

Driver information is housed in a customisable 12.3” instrument cluster display with two layout settings. The first shows a linear tachometer running along the top of the screen with selected gear and vehicle speed shown below, ideal for track driving. The other layout is centred around a circular tachometer containing vehicle speed and selected gear, with additional read-outs on either side. 

A 7.0” touchscreen display houses Toyota’s advanced multimedia system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while a lightweight air-conditioning unit offers dual-zone climate control operated by temperature adjustment dials. 

Not compromising on safety, the GR Corolla features Toyota Safety Sense driver assistance technologies such as emergency steering assist to help evade roadside obstacles while keeping the car in its lane. Intelligent active cruise control includes several early detection features for smother operation and even scans the road ahead to pre-emptively slow the vehicle before a sharp corner comes up.

Front and rear parking sensors and the reverse camera are included. Seven SRS airbags are also included as standard for excellent passive occupant protection.

RIDING THE WAVE

Toyota launched its newest performance hatch at its Gazoo Racing facility at Zwartkops Raceway, where we put the dynamic ability of the GR Corolla – underpinned by its highly-rigid TNGA-C architecture – to the test. 

Besides its significant power, the GR Corolla’s chassis is the highlight of the show. With an additional 349 spot welds placed throughout the body, an additional 2,748 mm of structural adhesive, and reinforcement braces added to the underfloor, front and rear suspension members, and between the rear wheels, the car simply doesn’t yield to the severe stresses that hardcore track driving places on the car.

Both the front and rear suspension systems have been extensively overhauled for 

increased rigidity compared to the Corolla hatch, with newly designed components including shock absorbers, coil springs, strut bearing spacer and absorber knuckle bracket (at the front), and suspension arm bushings, stabiliser, and axle carrier at the rear.

With this highly focused track set-up, the GR Corolla rides expectantly firm, although never jarring on normal roads. Understandably, it is not ideal as a daily commuter, and Gauteng’s pockmarked roads pose a proper challenge to the Corolla’s sophisticated suspension and 18” ENKEI cast aluminium wheels shod with 235/40R18 Yokohama Advan rubber. That said, the GR Corolla’s speed-sensing electric power steering system lightens steering effort at low speeds and improves responsiveness at higher speeds to help the driver avoid those tyre-munching voids.

LAST WORD

With the GR Corolla, Toyota returns full force to the power hatch fray with two reasonably priced cars for what you get. Starting at R841,000 for the 1.6T Core, and R902,400 for the 1.6T Circuit (seen here), it trumps rivals in this category with street cred that simply cannot be matched.

Report by BERNIE HELLBERG JR | Images © TOYOTA SOUTH AFRICA