Toyota is a big name in car manufacturing, with millions of units produced across its
many factories across the globe.
Its performance-vehicle skunkworks division, known as
Gazoo Racing, has been helping the company on its crusade in recent years to add
excitement to its lineup with sportier offerings and more stylish design.
Their latest effort is the GR Corolla, and it promises to shock
the entire car industry!
Toyota is the world's biggest automaker and the 10th-largest company on Earth in terms
of revenue.
Although bigger doesn't always mean better, the cost-to-own awards and
best resale value prizes that Toyota rakes inconsistently make a bold statement on the
company's commitment to building trusted cars.
As Karl Brauer, the executive publisher of Kelley Blue Book, puts it, the awards tell
you that the cars are hugely dependable.
Both new and used-car buyers highly value them
because of the wide awareness of how reliable they are.
That's what makes a car hold its value.
Both used- and new-car buyers know that they can buy a Toyota and expect a
stress-free and worry-free ownership experience because it is dependable.
Toyota has many excellent models that have withstood the test of time.
It has the Camry, for example.
In 1997, the Camry became the first Toyota in history to earn the
distinction of being the bestselling car in America when it knocked the Ford Taurus off
its perch.
Except for 2001, the Camry has reigned supreme as America's favorite car
every year through 2018.
The Camry has ruled the space where dependability, reliability, and cost converge for more than
two decades.
There is also the Corolla line which, for a generation, has backed the Camry like a
younger sibling, earning the trust of millions looking for new and used cars.
It is more affordable and has as much or more of a strong
reputation for long-term reliability.
If someone says they want to spend the least
amount of money on the most dependable, long-lasting car for several decades now,
you could argue that the word 'Corolla' would be the answer!
Toyota also makes the Land Cruiser, which many people do not know was originally a
military vehicle in Japan in the '50s.
Toyota refined it for civilian use as a direct competitor to the Land Rover.
There's been some version of a Toyota Land Cruiser for
several decades now, and they've always been extremely well-respected from a
capability and durability standpoint.
If you're looking for something that can genuinely go
off-road and climb over rocks.
It is very robust and durable and won't break on you even
if you do that for years and years.
That's a contrast to a Land Rover, a very capable
SUV but one that will break down.
When consumers shifted to SUVs, Toyota was ready to cater to their changing tastes.
The company brought out the RAV4!
It is another well-executed Toyota, reflected in its
volume, how many are selling, and its resale value.
People are big fans of it!
You essentially get an SUV-like vehicle from its
looks and its increased interior flexibility and
functionality, but you're getting it for about the price of a Camry.
The RAV4 is becoming more of the poster child for Toyota in recent
years than the Camry was for decades.
You can't even talk about good cars without mentioning the Lexus brand, which Toyota
uses to cater to the luxury segment.
While Lexus is known for luxury, the Lexus RX
shines because of innovation too!
Until 1999, midsize SUVs were basically wagons built
onto pickup truck frames.
That year, however, Lexus switched up the genre with the RX!
It was the first successful SUV built on the body of a passenger vehicle, none other than
the Camry!
It was also revolutionary in that it was offered in front-wheel-drive instead of
just all-wheel or four-wheel drive.
While Toyota cars are popular worldwide, one unit within the company that many may
not know about is Gazoo Racing.
Toyota Gazoo Racing or TGR is Toyota's global motorsports division.
Its mission is to build enthusiasm for all motorsports and sport car
fans and customers by offering ever-better, motorsports bred cars, making the
motorsports industry more attractive and sustainable.
The president of Toyota, who drives under the alias' Morizo,' Toyota's President and
Master Driver, Akio Toyoda, is involved in developing every TGR badged vehicle.
The North American arm, known as TGRNA, provides
U.S. customers with performance sports cars built by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.
To create a unique brand experience, TGRNA will encompass Motorsports activities,
track-ready performance vehicles, and fan engagement activities.
TGRNA is more than just a racing organization but a collective
group of motorsports fans and car enthusiasts.
The latest work from TGR is the all-new GR Corolla, which is so hot that even Toyota
itself is begging its dealers not to take so many others!
Demand for this new car is so strong!
Jack Hollis, senior vice president of automotive operations at Toyota Motor
North America, said they have had to stop taking orders in an interview with Road &
Track publication.
Production of the GR Corolla is limited, as the car is primarily hand-built at Toyota's
GR factory in Motomachi, Japan.
For the 2023 model year, there will be 6500 built, and
production won't exceed 8000 units annually in future years!
Toyota chose the New York motor show for the public debut of the GR Corolla, its new
Honda Civic Type R, and Volkswagen Golf R rival.
The hot new take on the Toyota Corolla joins a quickly expanding lineup of
hot Toyotas developed by the Gazoo Racing performance division, alongside the Toyota
GR Yaris, which the company sells outside the US, Toyota GR Supra, and Toyota GR 86.
The GR Corolla uses a turbocharged three-cylinder engine plucked from the GR Yaris.
The engine was tuned up to make 300 horsepower.
That is 185.4 horsepower per liter and 43 horsepower more than it makes in the
GR Yaris!
A six-speed manual is the only transmission available, and all models come with
Toyota's GR-Four all-wheel-drive system.
The GR-Four system allows the driver to choose between different power-distribution
modes, starting with a 60/40 front-to-rear split for everyday driving up to 30/70 to
allow for drifting antics; a 50/50 split option is
intended to provide maximum traction for racing.
Current examples of the Corolla, even sporty SE and XSE models, don't offer remotely
racy handling or performance, but upgrades to the GR's suspension and powertrain
make it a legitimate contender in the sport compact car segment.
The top-spec Circuit Edition trim comes standard with front
and rear limited-slip differentials; the base Core model offers those as an option.
While the current Corolla is one of the more fuel-efficient options in its class, the main
draw of the GR version is high performance.
However, due to its small 1.6-liter, three- cylinder engine, it still delivers relatively
decent fuel economy.
EPA highway rating is estimated to be around 30 mpg, which falls
right between the Veloster N with 29 mpg highway and the Golf GTI with 32 mpg highway.
Despite being a performance-oriented car, the GR version is lighter than the standard
Corolla without compromising strength or safety.
Toyota achieved this by using lightweight materials throughout, taking the
standard GR Corolla to a curb weight of 1474kg.
The Circuit Edition takes that ethos further with a forged carbon-fiber roof panel
and an aluminum bonnet and front doors.
The rally-inspired visual makeover introduces black trim details, gaping intakes on the
bonnet and sides, heavily flared wheel arches, and a prominent wing stretching out over
the rear screen.
That's matched by motorsport-inspired tweaks to the cabin, including a leather-trimmed
GR steering wheel, GR-badged seats, and aluminum pedals; and on the Circuit Edition,
suede seats and a shift knob signed by Toyota president himself.
While the GR Corolla's silhouette is more closely related to the car on which it's based
than with the GR Yaris and regular Yaris, Toyota claims the "highly rigid body was
specially constructed" for the new car.
The GR Corolla shares most of its cabin with the standard Corolla hatchback, which
means good build quality, soft-touch materials, and plenty of features, but with racier
trim and sport seats.
Standard equipment includes ambient interior lighting, a six-way
adjustable driver's seat, push-button start, and aluminum pedal covers.
Automatic climate control, heated seats, and a heated
steering wheel are all standard on the Circuit Edition, which also wears suede and
faux-leather upholstery in place of the base model's cloth.
The GR Corolla offers an 8.0-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android
Auto integration.
There is also Amazon Alexa capability and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot.
The Technology package on Core models adds an eight-speaker JBL stereo system, a
wireless smartphone charging pad, and in-dash navigation; these items are all standard
on the Circuit Edition.
The bespoke 18-in sports wheels are wrapped in sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires and
backed by ventilated, slotted performance brake discs gripped by four-piston aluminum
calipers.
Toyota currently offers much of its driver-assistance technology as standard on most of
its lineup, and the GR Corolla is no different.
Let's hear what you think of the Toyota GR Corolla in the comment section below!