Toyota Powers Up With 2023 GR Corolla

(This story has been updated with additional information learned during the launch event.)

Forget everything you thought you knew about the Toyota Corolla — well, almost everything.

Toyota’s rewriting the Corolla’s history, adding a chapter titled “The Hot Hatch Years.”

The automaker’s compact model has long been the segment’s best seller, even with its reputation for being one of its blandest models. Now, however, Toyota is ready to amp things up with the introduction of the 2023 GR Corolla.

Coming almost a year after the debut of the ute-like Corolla Cross, the GR model aims to spice up the plain vanilla Toyota. Developed by Toyota’s Gazoo Racing team, the new five-door model comes through with more aggressive styling, a 300-horsepower engine and a tunable all-wheel-drive system. Oh, and let us not forget it uses a fast-throw 6-speed manual transmission.

“We finally have a hot hatch here in the United States,” exclaimed Mike Tripp, Toyota Motor’s vice president of marketing.

Oh, Great Gazoo!

It’s the latest entry to bear the Gazoo badge, the racing operation also lending its skills to the Toyota GR 86 and GR Supra sports cars.

The new GR Corolla is ready to compete with the likes of the Honda Civic Type R.

The unit dates back nearly two decades, making a splashy first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2007. One of the drivers on the team went by the name, Morizo. It was a pseudonym adopted by Toyota President Akio Toyoda who has been pushing his product development teams to put more “passion” into the brand.

“GR isn’t just a badge,” said Tripp. “It’s a mindset.”

We’ll have to wait until we get a first drive to see how well they succeeded, but the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla looks good on paper, and in person, after getting an official debut on Thursday night in Los Angeles as well as online.

Impressive numbers

The GR Corolla is powered by a 1.6-liter 3-cylinder engine punching out 300 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque.

The numbers are impressive, a 1.6-liter 3-cylinder engine punching out 300 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The stunning number is a result of clever engineering. The GR Corolla features a triple exhaust that reduces back pressure and ups the horsepower. The 300 hp body slams the newly redesigned Subaru WRX and barely misses the 306 hp and 295 lb-ft delivered by the Honda Civic Type-R. (Toyota has not released 0-60 times.)

The downsized engine is paired with a rev-matching 6-speed engine, an increasingly uncommon novelty these days.

Power is then directed to both axles through the GR-Four all-wheel-drive system. Among the various vehicle functions a motorist can select, the AWD system offers three distinct torque distribution maps.

The interior comes with special sport seats and a slew of performance-oriented technology not found in the regular Corolla.

According to Toyota, the 60:40 setting is good for “everyday driving,” with the 50:50 setting for “competitive track driving.” And the 30:70 option is designed for “for a fun-to-drive quality on winding roads and circuits.”

Two versions

Two versions of the GR Corolla will be offered, including the base “Core,” and the more aggressively equipped GR Corolla Circuit Edition.

The latter model gets a number of unique features, starting with front and rear Torsen differentials. Add unique seats and badging along with front red brakes, LED fog lamps and a high-mounted wing. The more basic Core model has LED headlights and daytime running lamps and a lip spoiler.

Toyota’s already got its first GR Corolla racer with its new Formula Drift Car.

Along with the GR badges, the hot hatch starts with what Toyota bills as a matrix grille framed by those LED lights. The overall look is much more aggressive than the standard-issue Corolla. But virtually all of changes are being billed as functional. That includes a lighter weight forged carbon ceramic roof lining. Lightweight aluminum is used for the hood and front door panels.

Pricing

Inside, the cabin is more tech-oriented than the typical Corolla. That includes special sport seats and a 12.3-inch MIDI gauge cluster with unique-to-GR functions, including an all-wheel-drive display.

Buyers will have to wait a just a bit for pricing, Tripp noting the “MSRP will be announced soon.” And the automaker plans to wait until close to the hatchbacks on-sale date before releasing pricing. The current Corolla starts at $20,075 and climbs to $28,360. The 2022 Civic Type R, a close comparison, has an MSRP of at $37,895.

Corolla customers also will take home a free one-year membership in the National Auto Sport Association, including a High-Performance Driving Event with expert instruction. In addition, Tripp noted Toyota plans to launch a single-model race series next year called the GR Cup.

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