Australian details for the Toyota GR Corolla have been confirmed by the brand’s local arm, with the hot hatch to arrive in the first quarter of 2023.
However, the spicy version of Toyota’s third-most popular car this year will arrive in a limited run for its first model year, unlike its rivals the Volkswagen Golf R or Honda Civic Type R.
Toyota Australia says only 500 units of GR Corolla will be made available for MY23, a move not unexpected based on the limited availability of its smaller sibling, the GR Yaris.
Local GR Corolla models will bear the turbocharged 1.6-litre G16E-GTS three-cylinder engine found in the Toyota GR Yaris, but with 220kW and 370Nm instead of the Yaris’ 200kW. This is still down on power given to the GR Corolla in overseas markets: 224kW.
The all-wheel drive GR transfers power to the wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, with four drive modes that further differentiate its drivetrain from the smaller GR Yaris: Normal, Sport, Track, and Custom.
A set of 18-inch forged alloy wheels shod in Yokohama Advan Apex tyres are set in wider tracks than a standard Corolla for more stability.
The GR Corolla also features interior comforts like an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen and digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster display, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, heated seats and steering wheel, plus leather trim for the steering wheel, park brake handle, and gear shifter.
In terms of safety, Toyota includes pre-collision safety, pedestrian and cyclist detection (the latter in daylight), intersection and lane assists, emergency steering assist, active cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and parking cameras and sensors.
What’s yet to be confirmed for Australia is the pricing for the GR Corolla, which Toyota says will be announced closer to its Q1 2023 launch.
If the GR Yaris’ price jump over the car it’s based on is anything to go by, we wouldn’t be surprised if Toyota puts the GR Corolla within reach of $70,000. This comes down to a combination of the relatively bespoke drivetrain on top of the unique bodywork and panels, not interchangeable with a standard Corolla.
The most expensive non-GR Corolla is the ZR Hybrid with two-tone paint at $35,645 before on-roads.
If the standard GR Corolla is going to be expensive, then the lower, lighter, and torquier (by 5mm, 30kg, and 30Nm respectively) Morizo version will be comparatively eye-watering. Changes like the removal of the rear seats, addition of monotube shocks, shorter gear ratios, and wider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres mean the two-seater GR Corolla could even reach $80,000.
Order books for both versions of the GR Corolla will open in the fourth quarter of this year, though how many of the the two-seater Morizo versions (and whether they’ll be part of the 500 units or separate) is unconfirmed.
Keyword: Confirmed! Limited run of 2023 Toyota GR Corolla heading to Australia to fight the VW Golf R, Honda Civic Type R, and Hyundai i30 N