From Mild To Wild!
We’ve seen quick Corollas in the past – mostly developed by rally teams or Japanese mod houses – but now Toyota have unleashed their own performance division, Gazoo Racing, to apply the tuner treatment to their latest model, the 2023 GR Corolla.
This isn’t just some sport model fitted with a body kit and new badges, this hot hatch is gunning for the Ford Focus ST, the Hyundai i30 N, and the Volkswagen Golf GTI! The reliable and wholesome Toyota Corolla you know is gone, leaving this performance beast capable of doing donuts Krispy Kreme would be jealous of!
Fitted with an boosted version of the 1.6 litre turbocharged three cylinder engine found in the GR Yaris, this Corolla will deliver a whopping 220kW of power and 370Nm of torque to all four wheels! The engine is a development from the power-plant fitted to the Bates Motorsport team in the Australian Rally Championship – but it also gets a 10% power boost thanks to a triple muffler exhaust system!
A six-speed manual is on offer, and all models come with Toyota’s GR Four all-wheel drive system. This allows the driver to choose between different power-distribution modes; a 60/40 front-to-rear split for daily driving, a 30/70 for drifting; and a 50/50 split for maximum racing traction for racing. Our fave feature – the mechanical handbrake that assists with drifting!
The body kit steps away from the shopping trolley appearance of the past, withpumped out wheel-arches, a bulky bonnet and dual exhausts sure to impress.Riding on 18 inch black alloy wheels on red brake calipers, the sick exterior is just the start!
The chassis itself has been strengthened thanks to extra welds and braces, while aluminum body components manage to keep its weight as low as possible – less weight equals quicker lap times!
Inside the cabin, GR sports bucket seats up front, and a motorsport-inspired dash display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa are amongst the goodies!
Joining the Supra, Yaris and the upcoming 86, the 2023 GR Corolla with be the headline for the Gazoo Racing range – at a likely starting price of $70,000. Around 500 cars are set for Australia in the final quarter of 2022, all ready to slay the racetrack, whether you’re a seasoned track-head or nervous newbie!
