Toyota has gone from drab to desirable in a very short span of time thanks to its return to proper go-fast models under its Gazoo Racing banner.
Arguably the most anticipated of these models is the GR Corolla, a proper practical five-door hot hatch with enough potent performance to scare even the most established players like the Volkswagen Golf R and Honda Civic Type R.
The GR Corolla is yet to hit local showrooms, but Toyota is parading an example around the country to drum up even more interest, and we’ve poked and prodded at it to extract a number of key design details you might not know about.
Rear bumper cut outs to reduce drag
If you’ve ever spent time in the weekend racing scene, you’ve no doubt seen a number of cars with a hacked-up rear bumper, which can act like a sort of parachute slowing things down.
Well, Toyota is one step ahead, as its GR Corolla has rear bumper cut outs just above the triple-exit exhaust to allow air to escape and not be caught in the chunky, chiselled derriere.
Front fender vents to help evacuate turbulent air from wheel arch
Not just a stylish addition to the sporty bodywork, the front fender vents on the GR Corolla actually serve a purpose.
Designed so air can escape the front wheel arch and slip smoothly down the side of Toyota’s hot hatch, the fender vents also add a nice level of visual aggression to the GR Corolla and stand it apart from the stock-standard small hatchback.
Thin-spoke wheel designs for brake cooling
It seems like everything about the GR Corolla was designed to maximise speed, but that would all be for nothing if you couldn’t also stop the hot hatch in a timely fashion.
With bigger, beefy brakes installed, the GR Corolla is also fitted with unique thin-spoke alloy wheels that aid dissipating hot air from the sizeable stoppers, and thus cooling them down and letting them operate at optimal levels for longer.
Functional hood vents to help engine bay cooling
Like the Honda Civic Type R, the GR Corolla’s bulging hood with vent cut out isn’t just for show.
And with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder engine producing 220kW/370Nm under the bonnet, the GR Corolla will need all the help it can get to keep that engine bay free from hot air.
Extra air intakes in the front bumper
Speaking of, the new front bumper features an enlarged air intake that is designed to suck in more air for the radiator, while the GR Corolla also sports two extra intakes on either side of the Toyota badge.
The result is more airflow and better cooling for the highly-strung turbo triple engine.
Triple-exit exhaust with adjustable valve for variable back pressure, aiding power and torque
And the triple theme is also continued in the rear, with the number of exhaust outlets matching the number of engine cylinders.
But the triple-exit exhaust isn’t just designed to turn heads, there is an adjustable valve in the centre that will open or close depending on engine speed to optimise back pressure for better power and torque peaks.
Rear fenders are bolt-on additions
While the GR Yaris features a completely new three-door body, the GR Corolla is very evidently a Corolla hatchback with a muscle suit put on.
Sure, there are new front and rear bumpers, front fenders and side skirts to bulk things out, but the added width to the rear fenders appears to actually just be bolt-on bodywork.
Same head and tail-light design as current Corolla
And if the Corolla donor car wasn’t obvious enough, you have to look no further than the head- and tail-lights as evidence.
Credit where credit is due, Toyota has designed the current Corolla so aggressively that even the economy small hatchback’s exterior lighting doesn’t look odd or out of place in a hero car like the GR Corolla.
Manual gearbox, manual handbrake
Toyota’s GR Corolla is flying the flag for manual, all-wheel-drive, five-door hot hatches around the world after the discontinuation of the three-pedal Volkswagen Golf R, so luckily it is a smooth shifter.
Taken from the GR Yaris, the six-speed manual gearbox will also be complimented by a manual handbrake complete with a satisfying click when you rip it up.
Battery in the boot
Weight optimisation is core to any performance model, and the GR Corolla is no exception.
For better balance and weight distribution, the battery has been moved from the engine bay to the boot, and for those even more serious about weight, there is always the option of the Morizo edition that removes the rear seats entirely.
Keyword: 2023 Toyota GR Corolla design secrets revealed!