THE long-awaited GR Corolla sizzling hatch has surfaced, with bulging bodywork concealing a hi-po 224kW powertrain, a standard handbook transmission and a intelligent all-wheel drive system.
With mechanicals largely derived from the GR Yaris, Toyota’s hotted-up Corolla not solely offers an even bigger and extra sensible companion to the pint-sized Yaris, but it surely lastly offers the Japanese automaker a correct rival to different sizzling hatches just like the Volkswagen Golf R and Honda Civic Sort R.
It’s an area Toyota hasn’t performed in earlier than, a lot to the chagrin of firm president Akio Toyoda. Toyoda, grandson of Toyota Motor Company founder Kiichiro Toyoda, has spent the previous decade rebuilding a efficiency product portfolio for the corporate, starting with the first-generation Toyota 86 that launched in 2012, with the last word intention of eliminating the model’s fame for bland – however reliable – automobiles.
With the GR Corolla’s arrival bulking out Toyota’s world efficiency line-up to 4 vehicles (GR 86, GR Yaris, GR Corolla and GR Supra), Toyoda has arguably achieved that objective. However past simply growing Toyota’s fast-car headcount, the GR Corolla additionally boasts efficiency credentials that ought to see it shake up the recent hatch hierarchy.
Powered by a 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo that’s primarily based on (however not an identical to) the GR Yaris’ powerplant, the GR Yaris produces 224kW at 6000rpm and 370Nm between 3000 and 5500rpm. That’s 24kW extra energy than provided by the Yaris, and whereas peak torque is similar, the Corolla produces that determine over a wider rpm vary – the Yaris’ max torque tapers off from 4600rpm.
A few of that further oomph could come right down to faster-flowing plumbing on the exhaust aspect, with the GR Corolla sporting an unorthodox triple-tip exhaust association that’s claimed to cut back each exhaust backpressure and scale back noise when its bypass valve is about to Quiet mode.
A six-speed handbook is the one transmission alternative for now, although it receives a short-stroke linkage to quicken gearchanges in comparison with common manual-equipped Corollas.
Linked to the newest evolution of the GR-4 all-wheel drive system utilized by the Yaris, drive is taken to all 4 wheels with the front-to-rear torque break up being diversified by an digital multi-plate clutch. Nevertheless, in contrast to the Yaris, the GR Corolla divorces its torque bias settings from its different drive mode configurations, permitting throttle response and steering tune to be set independently of how a lot drive is being despatched to the rear axle.
Torsen limited-slip differentials are geared up on each entrance and rear axles, and the automotive’s 18-inch solid alloy wheels are shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.
Whereas the powertrain and drivetrain differ subtly between the 2, suspension {hardware} and platform structure are maybe the best differentiators between the GR Yaris and the GR Corolla. The GR Corolla is solely constructed on Toyota’s modular GA-C platform and provides a sensible five-door, five-seat bodystyle, whereas the GR Yaris was a hybrid of the smaller GA-B entrance finish and GA-C rear, and has a much more compact three-door, four-seat configuration.
Measuring 1850mm large and 4410mm lengthy, the GR Corolla shouldn’t be solely considerably bigger than the Yaris, but additionally 60mm wider than an everyday Corolla hatch because of its engorged bodywork.
These wider fenders allow monitor width to be stretched by 60mm on the entrance and 85mm on the again, whereas extra exact pillow-ball joints substitute squishy rubber bushings for better suspension accuracy and interact with uprated springs, performance-tuned shock absorbers and distinctive suspension geometry to boost dealing with.
The usual Corolla bodyshell additionally will get some further assist in the type of rigidity-boosting chassis reinforcements between the rear wheel wells, inside the transmission tunnel and forward of the gasoline tank, offering the energy wanted to harness the GR’s pushed rear wheels and ship higher dealing with stability. The usual metal roof can be changed by a carbon-fibre panel, lowering weight and growing chassis rigidity additional.
Eager drivers will admire the presence of a traditional handbook handbrake, with Toyota even going so far as to specify of their press launch the usefulness of that exact function when drifting. Toyota is clearly eager to capitalise on the hoon demographic.
Different braking {hardware} includes a set of opposed-caliper disc brakes, offering sufficient stopping energy to match the mechanical muscle that’s underneath the GR Corolla’s bulging bonnet.
Australian gross sales are anticipated to start someday within the fourth quarter of this 12 months, nonetheless Toyota Australia has but to announce whether or not it plans to retail the GR Corolla by way of a web-based ordering system, because it initially did with the GR Yaris.
Pricing can be a thriller for now. With the GR Corolla’s Torsen differentials and Michelin tyres making it extra akin to the $54,500 GR Yaris Rallye fairly than the entry-level $49,500 GR Yaris, a price ticket within the high-$50K to mid-$60k realm appears practical.
With the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf R provided at $66,990 earlier than on-roads, it’s not unreasonable to count on Toyota’s first all-paw five-door performer to land someplace close to that determine.
