Leaked pics reveal Corolla to adopt GR Yaris powertrain but gets even more power
Gazoo Racing latest Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch has been leaked ahead of its official debut later this week. The images of a completely unwrapped hot hatch gives us our first look at what’s set to be a formidable Honda Civic Type-R rival and shows how, as well as its new powertrain, the extent engineers have gone to adapt the humble Corolla hatch for its new starring performance role.
These include adopting a wider, less obstructed front grille, a new vented bonnet, large rear spoiler, flared arches and a freer-flowing triple-outlet exhaust.
Larger rims hide both an upgraded suspension and bigger brakes.
Under the new bonnet is the same 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol as the GR Yaris but with power boosted from that car’s 200kW/370Nm to around 225kW/400Nm.
Like its smaller sibling, the GR Corolla gets a six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive that can channel torque rearward for up to a 30:70 split front-to-rear. There’s no official confirmation yet, but a 0-100km/h sprint of less than 5.0 seconds is expected as well as a top speed of in excess of 250km/h. Inside, the GR Corolla is set for a pair of sport seats and upgraded steering wheel, plus plenty of extra sporty performance graphics for the instrument panel.
The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla will make its world debut via live stream on a dedicated microsite today (12:30pm AEST on Friday April 1), allowing the world to watch the reveal of what is set to be a Volkswagen Golf R-slaying hot hatch.
Keyword: Hot Toyota GR Corolla gets 225kW and all-wheel drive