Toyota GR Corolla to hit North American dealerships later this year

MANILA: The first-ever 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is set to arrive in North American dealerships later this year. It is expected to swiftly climb to the top of drivers' wish lists due to its rally roots, developed under the close supervision of master driver Akio Toyoda, and inspiration from Toyota's sports car heritage.

The GR Corolla will be available in three grades: Core, Circuit Edition, and the limited Morizo Edition. GR Corolla Core is set to hit the market this year, while the Circuit Edition and Morizo Edition are expected to arrive at dealerships next year.

In 2007, Toyoda wanted to boost the racing expertise of Toyota. He started out by entering the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the grueling endurance race held at the renowned track that winds through the German forest. The team was known as Gazoo Racing and was composed of Toyota employees, including Toyoda, who raced under the alias of Morizo.

The team entered the competition using two used Altezzas due to a limited budget. Despite obstacles, both vehicles completed the arduous race, ushering in a new age of Toyota motorsports and product development built on a spirit of challenge aiming to bring about change.

The GR Corolla upholds this philosophy as Toyota Gazoo Racing’s first wholly developed and manufactured model for the North American market.

The GR Corolla was put through rigorous testing at some of Japan's top circuits, including Fuji Speedway, Suzuka, and Tsukuba Circuit, with professional drivers, experts, and Morizo behind the wheel. The GR team also tapped a Japanese Rally Championship driver for heavy-duty dirt and snow driving. Every road was tested for engineers and technicians to refine acceleration and control deserving of the GR label.

Toyota has set up a special GR Factory at its manufacturing site in Motomachi, Japan to help achieve the performance targets for the GR Corolla. It is the home of the first GR production line, where the GR Corolla and GR Yaris were assembled, as well as the birthplace of legendary models like the Lexus LFA and Supra A80.

The body and component assembly lines consist of numerous cells connected by automated guided vehicles (AGVs) instead of the conveyors seen in traditional vehicle plants. This highly versatile working method, which incorporates various manual assembly procedures, provides precise body and suspension alignment while minimizing changes in vehicle dimensions and weight.

Each GR Corolla is manufactured by experts, which means it takes longer than a typical mass-produced car. To guarantee that each GR Corolla is made with great care and attention, the assembly line has been streamlined for precision with features like body alignment and weld checks.

Toyota Gazoo Racing has gathered highly skilled individuals across the company to work on the GR Corolla. This team not only helps build every GR Corolla but also contributes to the technical skill development of other employees throughout Toyota facilities when learning is shared. This philosophy is a facet of Toyota's overarching GR mission, which includes developing people, growing the car enthusiast and motorsports community, and producing ever-better vehicles.

Given the deep connections of motorsports in all Toyota Gazoo Racing models, it implies that the GR Corolla's drivetrain was developed through the demands of rally racing.

The GR Corolla comes with the GR-Four all-wheel-drive system, Toyota’s first sports all-wheel drive system in more than two decades. It was designed in partnership with the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team and refined by WRC drivers. The engineering was developed to maximize drive power to each wheel while staying uncomplicated and lightweight.

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.

The GR Corolla is powered by a G16E-GTS turbocharged, three-cylinder engine, the same powerplant used in the GR Yaris. It produces 300hp and a pleasing exhaust note without any added engine noise, thanks to a three-pipe exhaust system. The center pipe is open while idling and up to 32kph, at which point it will close for the pure thrill of its rumble. The pipe reopens at 4,500rpm, reducing exhaust backpressure for fast acceleration.

The compact engine also benefits from performance-enhancing motorsport innovations like multi-oil jet piston cooling, large-diameter exhaust valves, and a part-machined intake port. It has a displacement of 1,618cc and a maximum torque of 273lb-ft in the Morizo Edition model and 295lb-ft in the Core grade and Circuit Edition.

The engine is mated to a six-speed intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT). Weight is reduced by integrating a single-scroll ball-bearing turbocharger into the exhaust manifold, and the efficiency of the catalyst's warm-up is increased by managing wastegate bypass gases.

A manufacturer-estimated 8 City/11 highway/10 combined km/L rating is provided by Toyota's D-4S direct and port fuel injection system, which runs at high pressure for optimal fuel dispersion.

A highly rigid body was specifically built for the GR Corolla to provide control deserving of the GR label. The GR Corolla, which is based on the GA-C platform, is developed for handling performance that satisfies the driver.

349 more spot welds in the frame contribute to increased rigidity. The joint rigidity between component parts is enhanced by the widespread use of structural adhesive, which yields additional benefits. The Morizo has approximately 20 more feet of adhesive than the Corolla Hatch, and the Core grade and the Circuit Edition have just over nine more feet.

Braces in the rear wheelhouse and underfloor tunnel provide additional structural support. The Morizo Edition includes two braces across the rear of the cabin. The brace also functions as an in-car “tire rack,” allowing a spare set to be placed vertically for a track day.

The MacPherson-style strut front suspension is lightweight and enhances tire grip. The front suspension, which consists of circuit-tuned coil springs, shock absorbers, and stabilizer bars, is made to optimize power distribution to the wheels and offer the best cornering ability on all terrains. The rear suspension features a double-wishbone type multilink assembly to provide the best agility and stability desired by the AWD system. The circuit-tuned coils and red-painted monotube shock absorbers of the Morizo Edition's suspension have stiffer spring rates.

The GR Corolla's 103.9 wheelbase ensures exceptional cornering performance while retaining high-speed stability. 18in gloss-black 15-spoke cast alloy wheels and 235/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires are standard on the Core grade and Circuit Edition. Meanwhile, 245/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires are fitted on the Morizo Edition's 18 forged alloy wheels.

Four-piston aluminum calipers are mounted on opposed, fixed-caliper disc brakes with 14in by 1.1in ventilated and slotted rotors. The Core grade comes standard with 11.7in by 0.7in venti;ated rotors with two-piston aluminum fixed-caliper disc brakes. Meanwhile, the Circuit Edition and Morizo Edition come standard with red-painted GR-logoed calipers. The Performance Package on the Core grade comes with the option of red-painted front and rear calipers.

Weight reduction has been prioritized across the entire GR Corolla to increase performance potential while maintaining strength and safety. The vehicle's construction, which makes great use of lightweight metals and materials in key areas, is a clear demonstration of this meticulous approach.

The roof of the Circuit Edition and Morizo Edition is constructed from forged carbon sheet molding compounds. The center of gravity of the vehicle is lowered due to this lightweight, extremely rigid material that is lighter than steel.

The front door panels are made of steel, while the hood is made of aluminum. Lightweight high-tensile steel is applied in areas that must safely absorb and dissipate impact forces.

The GR Corolla is designed with a black functional matrix grille that presents a strong and powerful character. The Core grade and Morizo Edition come with functional air vents flanking both sides. All variants are equipped with LED fog lamps, auto-on/off LED headlamps, and LED daytime running lamps.

The rear lower bumper cover also comes with functional air vents, which are gloss black on the Circuit Edition. The tapering of the roof and rear pillars are accentuated with a high-mounted black rear sport spoiler on the Circuit Edition and a color-matched rear-lip spoiler on the Core grade and Morizo Edition. The GR Corolla’s wide track and flared rear fenders highlight its wide, low stance, with a ground clearance of 5.3in on the Core grade and Circuit Edition and 5.1in on the Morizo Edition.

The GR Corolla's interior design is a reflection of how well the car performs. A new GR Full TFT meter with a 12.3-inch color Multi-Information Display (MID) that displays 4WD mode, turbo pressure, gear position indicator, and tachometer was designed by considering the feedback of professional drivers. The well-lit display has a start-up GR animation and is designed to be easily viewed in any situation.

The GR Corolla also comes with Toyota’s all-new, North American-developed Audio Multimedia system with an eight-inch touchscreen. Users can interact with the new system through touch and voice activation. With Intelligent Assistant available with an active Drive Connect trial or subscription, simple commands like “Hey Toyota” activate the system for voice-activated commands to search for directions, find Points of Interest (POI), and adjust audio controls and cabin temperatures.

Toyota Audio Multimedia supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and offers simultaneous dual Bluetooth phone connectivity. Up to five devices can connect to 4G with an active Wi-Fi Connect trial or subscription. The new Integrated Streaming feature, which allows linking separate Apple Music and Amazon Music subscriptions to the vehicle for onboard control, is also enabled through Wi-Fi Connect. The GR Corolla has a playback function with HD Radio, USB data, and a SiriusXM Platinum Plan three-month trial subscription, expanding the already extensive selection of audio multimedia features.

Other interior features include the push button GR engine start/stop button, aluminum sport pedals, two USB Type C charging ports, 12V auxiliary power outlet, lighted foot wells, front console tray, and rear console box. The Circuit Edition comes standard with Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging with full charge indicator light.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), which features new system sensors and improved detection capability, is standard on the GR Corolla. It includes advanced safety technologies such as Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Road Sign Assist.

The GR Corolla Core has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $35,900 (approximately P2.058 million). Meanwhile, the GR Corolla Circuit Edition is priced at $42,900 (approximately P2.459 million) and the GR Corolla Morizo Edition retails for $49,900 (approximately P2.86 million).

Photos from Toyota

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