The Toyota “GR Corolla,” which was first unveiled globally in March 2022, is a purebred sports car that embodies Toyota Gazoo Racing’s brand concept of “Creating Better Cars from Motorsports.” It has been meticulously refined through rigorous track testing, off-road driving, and snow driving by President Akio Toyoda (at that time) and others, known as “Morizo,” to deliver an exceptional driving experience.
At its heart, the GR Corolla features a reinforced version of the 1.6-liter inline-three intercooler turbo engine found in the GR Yaris. Specifically, the adoption of a three-exit valve exhaust system improves exhaust efficiency, resulting in a maximum power output of 304PS, which is +32PS higher than the GR Yaris.
This engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and the “GR-FOUR” sports 4WD system. While the body is based on the Corolla Sport, it has been enhanced with a 60mm wider front and 50mm wider rear track to improve high-speed cornering performance.
Furthermore, in June 2022, a special edition called the “Morizo Edition” was announced. The “Morizo Edition” features rear seat removal for further weight reduction and enhanced performance. It also includes improvements in maximum torque, body rigidity, a lower-geared differential, and the adoption of dedicated semi-bucket seats to further enhance its performance.
The “Corolla” has been known as a synonym for mainstream cars and has also played a significant role in supporting Toyota’s early days in motorsports.
During the development of the GR Corolla, President Toyoda expressed a strong desire, stating, “Because it is a car that many customers love, I absolutely don’t want it to be labeled as a mere commodity. I want to bring back a Corolla that captivates customers.” These words reflect the passionate commitment behind the creation of this vehicle.
Due to its rare combination of a pure gasoline engine and manual transmission in a sports car, the GR Corolla received an overwhelming response from users when the lottery application started on December 2, 2022. The allocated 570 units for Japan (500 for the “RZ” model and 70 for the “Mori-zo Edition”) sold out instantly.
As of June 2023, it is not possible to purchase a new GR Corolla from dealerships. Additionally, due to the recent delivery of the vehicles, they are scarce in the used car market as well. In other words, the GR Corolla is currently virtually impossible to obtain, whether as a new or used car.
