- The GRMN bumps torque from 295 to 302 pound-feet.
- Weight is slashed by 66 kilos.
- GRMN additionally comes with chassis and suspension tweaks.
- Toyota matches sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
It’s been over a 12 months since Toyota introduced it was creating a torquier GR Corolla, leaving us questioning whether or not it might carry the GRMN badge. Fortunately, our prediction was spot on, and the “Gazoo Racing Meister of the Nürburgring” has formally arrived. Whereas not a radical departure from the GR Corolla, it does carry enhancements throughout the board.
Let’s begin with the engine. Toyota’s turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder nonetheless makes 300 horsepower, however torque has been bumped from 295 to 302 pound-feet (410 Newton-meters). Since a few of the pictures we’ve included present the Japanese model, it’s price noting that the JDM-spec GRMN Corolla produces barely extra torque, at 306 lb-ft (415 Nm).
Curiously, the additional oomph extracted from the G16E-GTS (shared with the GR and GRMN Yaris) was made potential by making use of classes realized whereas testing the GR Corolla race automotive with a hydrogen-fueled engine. Apart from a bit extra peak torque, there’s additionally extra of it within the midrange. At full tilt, the GRMN’s newly added intercooler spray system retains temperatures at optimum ranges for sustained energy supply.
Picture by: Toyota
The GRMN Ranges Up The Corolla
Echoing the hardcore Morizo Edition from just a few years in the past, the GRMN Corolla sacrifices practicality by deleting the rear seats, shaving off 66 kilos (30 kilograms) in comparison with the common GR. Additionally derived from the hydrogen race automotive talked about earlier, the aerodynamic bundle incorporates a five-way adjustable rear wing. The muscular physique package additionally consists of hood and entrance fender ducts, in addition to entrance facet spoilers.
Whereas the GR Corolla rides on 235/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires, the GRMN will get wider, stickier 245/40 ZR18 Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber wrapped round 18-inch, 10-spoke cast wheels completed in matte bronze. The brand new wheels put on GR badging as a substitute of the Toyota emblem as a part of a broader effort to show Gazoo Racing into a standalone sub-brand.
Elsewhere, Toyota modified the suspension by becoming new entrance and rear monotube shock absorbers. Engineers additionally labored on the all-wheel-drive system and electrical energy steering to make the GRMN Corolla even higher on the observe and create what the corporate calls the “final” model of its scorching hatch.
The GRMN Corolla Is A Two-Seat Affair
The rear-seat delete isn’t the one change inside. The North American model will get semi-bucket sport seats, whereas in Japan and Australia, Toyota installs a full bucket driver’s seat with even higher lateral assist. Developed and manufactured in-house, carbon fiber adorns the passenger facet of the dashboard. One other hard-to-miss change is the Alumite Purple end utilized to the door trim and shift knob.
Though the manufacturing run hasn’t been disclosed, the serial-number plate positioned above the handbook gearbox’s shifter suggests availability will probably be restricted. With solely three digits, we’d be tempted to say Toyota received’t construct greater than 999 items, however that continues to be to be seen, because the numbering might differ by area.
The GRMN Corolla will primarily be offered in Japan, North America, and Australia. Whereas pricing hasn’t been introduced, it’s affordable to imagine it is going to command a major premium over the GR Corolla, which begins at $41,415 earlier than choices. Because it’s a 2026 model-year automobile, the GRMN ought to go on sale within the U.S. within the coming months.
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Supply: Toyota
Motor1’s Take: Toyota has predictably saved one of the best for final, however a three-cylinder engine may nonetheless be a turnoff for some patrons. Nevertheless, it’s a identified reality {that a} bigger 2.0-liter four-cylinder is within the works for future GR-badged fashions. A brand new Corolla has already been previewed as a sedan concept, suggesting the next-generation mannequin will arrive within the coming years. That stated, a future GR Corolla is unlikely to be accessible immediately.
Toyota is set to show Gazoo Racing right into a full-fledged lineup of efficiency fashions. Whereas the GRMN doubtless marks the start of the top for spicy Corolla variants primarily based on the present technology, the future looks bright. Within the meantime, the GRMN is one of the best Toyota has to supply fans proper now.
