Grand entrance: Toyota GR Supra MT, GR Corolla reaches Southeast Asia anew in Malaysia

MANILA: At the Sepang International Circuit recently, Toyota Malaysia unveiled not just one, not two, but a total of five new Toyota GR vehicles. The brand-new GR Supra with manual transmission is one of them — it lands in that country along with the GR86 and GR Corolla.

With the introduction of the Toyota GR Supra Manual and Toyota GR Corolla in Southeast Asia, the vehicles’ presence in the Philippines may be anticipated or indicated.

Two GR Supra variations are now available in the Malaysian market thanks to the addition of the stick shift trim to the eight-speed automatic version that was already available. The Toyota GR Corolla, on the other hand, is available in a single manual trim, and driven by a 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine capable of producing 370 Nm of peak torque and 300 PS of maximum power.

2023 Toyota GR Supra Manual

The 2023 Toyota GR Supra enhances the driving experience with a new six-speed intelligent Manual Transmission option. Performance, power, and style are already there in the 2023 Toyota GR Supra manual, but the inclusion of a stick shift gives the element of direct control.

2023 Toyota GR Supra Manual Technical Highlights

Toyota Gazoo Racing Engineers worked with German transmission manufacturer ZF and Toyota Motor Europe to develop the six-speed manual transmission for the GR Supra. It was built with components specifically designed to match the three-liter, 382-hp straight-six engine's power and torque capabilities.

The technical team reduced weight to make the manual Supra only 3,389 pounds by removing extraneous parts like the acoustic package, integrating an existing transmission case and gear set, designing a new shift lever, and integrating an existing transmission case and gear set.

At the heart of the transmission is a newly created huge diameter clutch with a stronger diaphragm spring. This new component, which has a larger friction area and a stronger spring, is better suited for usage with the high-torque engine in the GR Supra manual.

Another major factor was whether a manual shifter could be supported in the driver's cockpit. In particular, the lever ratio was selected to lessen the effort required to engage reverse gear and to make shifts. While the shift knob's weight, shape, and degree of shift engagement have all been accurately calculated. With ergonomics in mind, the console unit and location of the drive mode selector were altered to provide a 1.7-inch distance between the shift knob and the control panel.

In 2021, the GR team increased the 3.0 Supra to 382 hp and 497Nm. of torque, and introduced a turbocharged four-cylinder GR Supra 2.0 with 255 horsepower and a stout 360Nm of torque.

2023 Toyota GR Supra Manual Handling

For use with a manual transmission, the GR Supra's traction and brakes have been improved.

While utilizing the automatic transmission, movement is smooth with almost no rolling back or wheel slip when the opposing wheels are on surfaces with different amounts of traction, such as when the car is stopped on a road that is partially covered in snow. While operating a manual gearbox, first gear must be engaged, and releasing the clutch increases the possibility of wheel spin.

To solve the issue, Toyota engineers changed the car's TRAction Control (TRAC) system to make it operate smoothly, much like an automatic. The system is additionally optimized for the GR Supra's rear-wheel drive, big tires, and high engine torque.

The development of a new Hairpin+ feature was in part motivated by the desire to make the 2023 Toyota GR Supra manual pleasant to drive even in the most difficult conditions. When taking tight corners on an incline with a high friction road surface and an uphill gradient (greater than 5%), this is intended to provide the driver more freedom and reward.

To allow for a bigger differential in wheel spin between the left and right side tires, Toyota has improved engine torque control. More "freewheel" spin can make such routes more fun to drive.
The Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) of the GR Supra has been supplemented with an Anti-Roll Program (ARP) to combat the potential for "snap-off" oversteer, which may be challenging to control with VSC alone. This intervenes at an earlier point with the VSC to counter any sudden loss of grip when the car’s high-response suspension setting is used.

2023 Toyota GR Corolla

Due to its rally roots, development under the close supervision of legendary driver Akio Toyoda, and inspiration from Toyota's sports car history, the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is predicted to quickly move to the top of drivers' wish lists.

2023 Toyota GR Corolla Technical Highlights

The same three-cylinder, turbocharged G16E-GTS engine that powers the GR Yaris also powers the GR Corolla. A three-pipe exhaust system gives it 300 horsepower and a pleasant exhaust note without adding any additional engine noise. While idling and up to 32 kph, the middle pipe is open; however, after that point, it closes for the excitement of the rumbling alone. At 4,500 rpm, the pipe reopens, lowering exhaust backpressure for quick acceleration.

The tiny engine also gains from motorsport developments that improve performance, such as multi-oil jet piston cooling, large-diameter exhaust valves, and an intake port that has been partially milled. It features a 1,618cc displacement and a maximum torque of 295lb-ft for the Core grade and 273lb-ft for the Morizo Edition variant.

A six-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT) is connected to the engine. A single-scroll ball-bearing turbocharger is incorporated into the exhaust manifold to decrease weight, and wastegate bypass gasses are controlled to improve the effectiveness of the catalyst's warm-up.

At some of Japan's premier circuits, including Fuji Speedway, Suzuka, and Tsukuba Circuit, the GR Corolla was put through rigorous testing with professional drivers, experts, and Morizo behind the wheel. A Japanese Rally Championship driver was also recruited by the GR team to drive in the snow and mud. Engineers and technicians tested every road in order to perfect the acceleration and control necessary for the GR designation.

Instead of the conveyors found in conventional vehicle plants, the body and component assembly lines are made up of several cells connected by automated guided vehicles (AGVs). The exact body and suspension alignment provided by this highly adaptable working technique, which integrates a variety of manual assembly techniques, minimizes changes in vehicle weight and dimensions while maintaining alignment.

2023 Toyota GR Corolla Handling

The fact that all Toyota Gazoo Racing models have close ties to motorsports suggests that the GR Corolla's drivetrain was created in response to the rigors of rally racing.

The GR-Four all-wheel drive system, which is Toyota's first sports all-wheel drive system in more than 20 years, comes standard on the GR Corolla. The Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team collaborated on its design, which WRC drivers then improved. The engineering was created to maintain simplicity and lightness while maximizing drive power to each wheel.

The GR-Four system was created to handle various circumstances and was inspired by rally driving. Whether the driver wants to modify performance for dirt, rain, or snow or is just in the mood for a different feel, the GR-Four system offers settings to match.

The GR Corolla's four-wheel-drive performance may be adjusted to suit the needs of the driver by simply twisting a dial. Drivers can set a 60:40 front-to-rear torque distribution under normal driving conditions. Balance can shift to the rear for sporty driving, with a 30:70 distribution for a fun-to-drive quality on twisting roads and circuits. A 50:50 configuration may be used for fast, competitive track driving on circuits or special stages for maximum stability. The torque balance will automatically change in each mode to the driver's inputs, vehicle behavior, and road conditions.

The front and rear Torsen Limited-Slip Differentials (LSD) on the Circuit Edition and Morizo Edition also manage the allocation of left- and right-hand drive torque on the front and rear axles, improving cornering performance and grip. AWD open differentials are standard on the Core grade, and dual LSD is an option included in the Performance Package.

Photos from Toyota

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