Here are more details about the first-ever Toyota GR Corolla

MANILA: Toyota last week unveiled the 2023 GR Corolla, the powerful, stylish, and nimble hatchback that American drivers have been waiting for. This all-new addition to Toyota's growing lineup of sports cars provides the performance, agility, and practicality that hot hatch fans will enjoy.

The GR Corolla is powered by a lightweight G16E-GTS turbocharged, direct/port injected three-cylinder engine that churns out 300hp and 273lb-ft of torque. Optimized for quick acceleration out of corners, peak torque is reached at 3,000 to 5,500rpm, with maximum horsepower at 6,500rpm. Its adrenaline-pumping power is delivered via a unique triple exhaust system that minimizes back pressure for maximum power delivery.

The GR Corolla also gets Toyota's rally-developed GR-Four All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) drivetrain. Drivers can choose between 60-40, 50-50, or 30-70 power distribution to the front and rear wheels with this system. The GR Corolla will only be available with a manual transmission, staying true to its rally racing origins.

Its wide hatchback design and low center of gravity are based on Toyota's GA-C platform, which features improved frame reinforcements developed exclusively for the GR Corolla at Toyota Motomachi's GR Factory. Aerodynamic elements and functional exterior air vents add to the steering stability.

Toyota's car development projects were boosted in 2007 when it decided to participate in the 24 Hours Nürburgring, a rigorous endurance race staged on the legendary course looping through the German forest. The team, known as Gazoo Racing, was made up of Toyota personnel, including Akio Toyoda, who drove under the pseudonym of Morizo.

The newly formed team joined the race with two secondhand Altezzas. Despite the challenges, both cars completed the grueling race, ushering in a new age of Toyota motorsports and product development based on a spirit of challenge focused on inciting change.

The GR Corolla, as Toyota Gazoo Racing's first fully developed and produced model for the North American market, continues this tradition.

The GR Corolla was put through its paces at some of Japan's most prestigious circuits, including Fuji Speedway, Suzuka, and Tsukuba Circuit, with professional drivers, experts, and Morizo behind the wheel. Furthermore, a Japanese Rally Championship driver assisted the GR team with heavy duty dirt and snow driving. No rock was left unturned in order for engineers and technicians to achieve acceleration and control worthy of the GR moniker.

Toyota has established a dedicated GR Factory at its production plant in Motomachi, Japan to help reach the performance targets for the GR Corolla. It is where icons like the Lexus LFA and Toyota Supra A80 were developed, and it is now where the first GR production line, which manufactures the GR Corolla and GR Yaris, is located.

Instead of the standard conveyor system, the body and assembly lines use automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to connect numerous cells. With many manual assembly procedures, this totally flexible mode of working allows for accurate body and suspension alignment, with differences in vehicle dimensions and weight kept to a minimum.

Because each GR Corolla is built by experts, it takes longer to put it together than a mass-produced car. Body alignment and weld inspections have been added to the production line to guarantee that each GR Corolla is manufactured with painstaking care and attention. To develop the GR Corolla, Toyota Gazoo Racing has assembled a team of highly competent professionals from around the company. This group not only builds every GR Corolla, but also helps other Toyota employees improve their technical skills. It is a team structure that is part of Toyota's bigger GR goal of developing people, engaging fans, and building ever better cars.

The GR Corolla will be available in two trim levels: Core and Circuit Edition.

The Core Grade will be rolled out later this year. It will come in three color variants: white, black, and Supersonic Red. It will also feature a color-keyed roof with a rear lip spoiler, GR-Four stamped side rockers, and wide fender flares. On the inside, GR-logoed fabric sport seats will accommodate up to five people.

The Circuit Edition will be a limited-edition variant, which will be launched in 2023.  White, Supersonic Red, and Heavy Metal are the standard colors. It is also equipped with the same GR-Four stamped side rockers and wide fenders as the Core. It has a forged carbon fiber roof, vented bulge hood, and sporty rear spoiler, as well as Brin Naub suede-trimmed sport seats with red accents and a Morizo-signed shift knob that is only available during the launch year.

The all-new touchscreen Toyota Audio Multimedia system will also be standard on the GR Corolla. With an eight-inch touchscreen and new sight, touch, and voice activation, the system provides a better user experience. Simple phrases like "Hey Toyota" activate the Intelligent Assistant available through Drive Connect, allowing voice-activated commands to search for directions, locate POIs, modify audio controls, adjust cabin temperatures, and more.

The GR Corolla is also equipped with a new GR Full TFT meter and a 12.3-inch color Multi-Information Display (MID) with a GR meter with 4WD mode, turbo pressure, gear position indicator, and tachometer. The brightly lit display is designed for easy readability in all lighting conditions and projects a GR animation during startup.

The shift lever has a reduced stroke for quick shift between gears. The action is light, with short shift strokes, and is positioned where the driver's arm is naturally relaxed from steering, enhancing the performance quality. The mechanical parking brake on the GR Corolla is a pull type.

Both grades come standard with push-button GR engine start/stop, aluminum sport pedals, two USB charging ports, one 12V auxiliary power outlet, lighted foot wells, front console tray, and rear console box. On the Circuit Edition, Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging with a full charge indicator light is standard, while on the Core Grade, it is part of the Technology package.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) is also standard on all GR Corolla grades, and it features upgrades made possible by system sensors with enhanced detection capability.

Other standard safety features on the GR Corolla include Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), which detects and warns the driver of vehicles approaching or positioned in adjacent lanes, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which detects vehicles approaching from either side while backing out and alerts the driver with a visual and audible warning. Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) is also included as standard feature.

The pricing for Toyota GR Corolla will be revealed later this year.

Photos from Toyota

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