The new Toyota GR Corolla has officially gone on sale in South Africa, adding another exciting addition to the automaker’s sporty line-up.
There are two models available – the Core and Circuit – and prices start at R841,000.
“For decades, Corolla has been one of South Africa’s most-loved models, and it’s exciting to see how it has evolved and maintained relevance in the market over the years,” said Glenn Crompton, vice president of marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM).
“Similarly, motorsport has long been a part of Corolla’s DNA, and to have a fully-fledged hot hatch version of the Corolla is a huge thrill.”
Performance
Both versions of the GR Corolla are powered by an uprated version of the same 1.6-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine found in the GR Yaris.
This gives the hot hatch a power rating of 221kW and 370Nm, distributed to the tarmac via a selectable GR-Four all-wheel-drive system and a six-speed manual gearbox.
The Toyota has also lost 13kg thanks to a reduction in the size and number of body panels used, and its MacPherson suspension has been retooled to ensure optimal contact with the road while lowering the centre of gravity.
Thanks to these improvements, the Corolla can reach 100km/h in roughly 5.0 seconds, before reaching a max speed of 230km/h.
Other mechanical endowments include new shock absorbers, coil springs, a set of red GR aluminium brake calipers, and disc brakes that measure 356mm in the front and 297mm in the back.
The manufacturer has also given the sports car three driving modes namely Eco, Normal, and Sport which adjust the powertrain, suspension, steering, and aircon to suit the situation.
Features
As a model bearing the automaker’s sporting credentials, the Corolla has a wide range of visual enhancements intended to make it stand out.
The wheel arches have been extended to emphasize the vehicle’s lower stance and the front end is completely redesigned for better airflow, featuring a blacked-out grille with a G-mesh pattern which is flanked on either side by air curtains that funnel cool wind into the wheel arches.
Furthermore, there is a large under-spoiler to reduce drag, and various stabilisation fins have been added to direct airflow around the body with minimal drag.
The GR also comes with automatic LED headlights, daytime running lights, and a new rear diffuser with a triple exhaust that reduces backpressure and improves performance.
For the wheels, the Japanese firm has added 18-inch ENKEI cast aluminium rims in a 15-spoke design, which are fitted with 235/40R18 Yokohama Advan tyres.
There are four paint colours to choose from for the body, too, comprising Fierce Red, Raven Black, White Glacier, and Midnight Grey.
Inside, the three-spoke steering wheel, gear shift, and manual hand brake are all decked out in leather with silver contrast stitching, and the seats are a mix of BRIN-NAUB suede and leather in either a black/white or black/red colour scheme.
GR badges can be found on the steering wheel, gear knob, push-start button, and the front bucket seats, and the pedals are made of aluminum to match the silver smoke metallic finish on the door handles and instruments.
On the Toyota’s dashboard sits a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster which can show information relevant to your track performance, such as G forces, coolant temperature, and boost pressure, in addition to the usual speed, rev, and gear displays; and situated in the centre is a 7.0-inch infotainment monitor which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
On top of this, the front seats are heated and the cabin boasts dual-zone climate control with their own set of analogue controls.
Safety equipment on the hatch includes emergency steering assist, which can help drivers evade pedestrians, cyclists, and parked cars, while also providing light steering inputs to stop you veering out of lane.
There’s also adaptive cruise control which is linked to the turn signals, enabling it to provide smooth overtaking by engaging preliminary acceleration when the driver operates the turn signal, according to the manufacturer.
The preliminary acceleration will not be applied if a preceding vehicle is detected in the overtaking lane. Likewise, when turning into a lane with a preceding car travelling slower than the set vehicle speed, early preliminary deceleration will be applied for smoother deceleration, it said.
In combination with the lane-trace assist, the cruise control can also identify upcoming sharp turns and decelerate accordingly.
Finally, the Corolla is fitted with seven airbags, as well as front and rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera.
Pricing
The South African pricing for the new Toyota GR Corolla is as follows:
- Toyota GR Corolla 1.6T Core – R841,000
- Toyota GR Corolla 1.6T Circuit – R902,400
Each purchase includes a 9-service/90,000km service plan and a 3-year/100,000km warranty.
“The GR Corolla is available in limited numbers and customers are encouraged to register their interest with the nearest dealer as soon as they can,” said TSAM.
Toyota GR Corolla
Keyword: New Toyota GR Corolla officially goes on sale in South Africa – What’s available