We recently spent some time with the all-new Toyota GR Corolla, and that's all we can tell you for now. There's a very strict embargo for everything related to its performance and how it feels from behind the wheel. But the price? Now that we can talk about.
Three versions of the GR Corolla will be available: Core, Circuit, and the limited Morizo Edition. The Core will arrive first in the late fall, carrying an MSRP of $35,900. The Circuit and Morizo Editions will come in spring 2023, priced at $42,900 and $49,900, respectively. These prices exclude a destination charge of $1,095.
The Core and Circuit will be powered by a 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 300 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The Morizo also has 300 hp, but the torque is bumped to 295 lb-ft.
All models come standard with a six-speed manual gearbox with rev-matching, which sends the power to an all-wheel-drive system with variable torque split. This system first made its debut on the GR Yaris, and we are 100% allowed to tell you that the Yaris redefined the small hot hatch segment, primarily thanks to its AWD system. The Morizo ships standard with a close-ratio gearbox and shorter differential gears. The power can be distributed in a 60:40, 50:50, or 30:70 split, front-to-rear, depending on the driving mode.
The Core and Circuit have aggressive and functional vents, fins, and aerodynamic enhancements. Circuit models get a roof-mounted spoiler. Different color palettes and exterior packages are available for the two models, but both rides on 18-inch alloys shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. The Morizo is a bit more special, and ships standard with 18-inch forged alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
The interior has many things, including some screens and buttons, but we'll gloss over them in favor of the stuff you really want to know.
There are three aluminum sports pedals, an actual handbrake lever, and sports seats with additional bolstering. The Circuit and Morizo get more upscale interiors, but standard equipment is generous across the range. You get an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with all the modern connectivity features and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0.
Fans of rally-bred hatches will love the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which, in addition to the usual information, can also display boost pressure, tachometer, and torque split.
The all-new GR Corolla is the first rally-bred special to hit the USA in ages. Akio Toyoda promised years ago that Toyota would no longer make boring cars, and he most certainly made good on it. But the GR 86 and GR Supra were both designed in conjunction with another manufacturer, while the GR Corolla is a Toyota-only project. That somehow makes it more special.
How does the pricing compare to the rivals? The Volkswagen Golf R starts at $44,090. Honda has yet to confirm the new Civic Type R price, but our best estimate places it at roughly $40,000. Scooby's new WRX (with a manual) starts at $29,605, while Hyundai's rivals (Kona N and Elantra N) start at $34,200 and $32,150. That puts the GR Corolla somewhere in the middle, ready to do some severe damage.
Can it? The embargo on the driving impression lifts on 14 September, so we'll answer that question then.
