The time has come for the debut of the newest member of Toyota’s GR (GAZOO Racing) racing family: The 2023 GR Corolla, a sleek, streamlined hatchback that stands poised to take the North American streets by storm. With roots that are firmly set in rally racing and design inspiration drawn from Toyota’s impressive line of sports cars, the GR Corolla is ready to become one of the most wanted cars by racing enthusiasts when it becomes available in North American dealerships later in 2022.

Performance Ready

Under the hood of the GR Corolla you will find the turbocharged G16E-GTS three-cylinder engine that spits out 300 horsepower (hp), an engine that’s both lightweight and compact but still able to provide drivers with all the get up and go they need. The GR Corolla’s considerable output capabilities are owing in part to the triple exhaust system, which lessens back-pressure in order to allow for the utmost in power delivery.

There are three grades for this impressive hatchback: Core, Circuit Edition, and MORIZO Edition. The Core and Circuit Edition grades will give drivers 300 hp and 273 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque, while the MORIZO Edition will climb a bit higher to put out 295 lb-ft of torque. Incredibly durable engine parts along with the turbocharger will give the GR Corolla the ability to accelerate faster than you would expect: The manufacturer estimated 0 to 60 miles per hour (mph) comes in at around five seconds!

In keeping with an unforgettable racing experience, the Core and Circuit Edition have a top torque output of between 3,000 and 5,500 rpm (rotations per minute). The MORIZO Edition, in which the G16E engine has been tuned for additional power output, comes in between 3,250 and 4,600 rpm.

Fine-Tuned Handling and Responsiveness

The GR Corolla comes with an intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) and features a moderately tuned clutch and short throw shifter that lets drivers stay engaged throughout the entire experience. The iMT will be left unactivated by default but can be activated simply by pushing a button on the left side of the steering wheel. For an increase in responsiveness, all three grades of the GR Corolla will come with a drive mode selector that features four different modes: Eco, Sport, Track, and Custom.

The GR Corolla also has Toyota’s GR-FOUR All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) drivetrain, which was massively inspired by rally-racing engineering. All you need to do is push a button or twist a dial in order to activate Track mode, in which the GR-FOUR system can be adapted to meet a number of driving styles or road conditions. Options are 60-40. 50-50, or 30-70 for torque distribution in front and rear wheels.

Striking Rally Hatchback Style

A quick look at the GR Corolla reveals all you need to know – its styling is attractively aggressive, augmented by the black functional matrix grille with the distinctive GR badge. Everything about the exterior was designed to be dynamic, including the functional air ducts on either side (Core and MORIZO grades) and the integrated LED fog lamps on the front grille (all grades).

All grades will also feature the wide fender-flares, front and rear, and both the Circuit and MORIZO grades will have the standout bulge hood with air ducts as well as a forged carbon fiber roof that are matched by the matte black roof-mounted shark fin antenna. On the Core trim you can expect to see an aluminum hood with a color-keyed hood, shark fin antenna, gloss black window molding and gloss black power outside mirrors. GR badges are standard on all grades at the front, rear, and sides.

For exterior colors, Core trim will come with Ice Cap, Supersonic Red, and Black (all with a color-keyed roof, rear lip spoiler, GR-FOUR stamped side rockers, and wide-fender flares). The Circuit Edition is available in Ice Cap, Supersonic Red, and Heavy Metal with the same wide fenders and stamped side rockers as the Core trim. The Morizo Edition will be available in Windchill Pearl as well as a new color exclusive to the grade: Matte finished Smoke Gray.

A Racing Enthusiast’s Dream

As you can see, there is a lot to be excited about for the 2023 GR Corolla. With an exterior design that will command attention and performance capabilities that go above and beyond, this hatchback is already one of the most anticipated cars in North America. Do not wait until it makes its debut here in Long Island to get more information – instead, pay us a visit or give us a call here at Westbury Toyota.