Is a GRMN Corolla on the Horizon? Toyota Teases a More Powerful, Track-Focused Hot Hatch

Miami Herald

4 hours ago

The GR Corolla has had a pretty warm reception since debuting back in 2023, but the automaker hasn't rested on its laurels. Continuous improvements for the 2024 model year include new exterior paints and lightweight wheels for the Circuit Edition, as well as the addition of a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission and increased torque for the 2025 model year. According to the car's Chief Engineer, Naoyuki Sakamoto, more power may be coming to the car soon. That is, if they can prevent the test vehicles from breaking for long enough to put the power down.
In an interview with Motor1, Naoyuki Sakamoto talks about the trials and tribulations of optimizing the GR Corolla's turbocharged three-cylinder engine. "We tried to increase engine power with the TCR Corolla," he starts, referring to the race version of the GR Corolla, "then we broke [the car]." Testing the car extensively at California's Sonoma Raceway, so far, hasn't yielded results that the automaker is happy with. "Hopefully, we can come to a measure to increase power, and eventually, with that planning, it can come to the production Corolla," Sakamoto told the publication.
It's an interesting policy shift for the automaker that has generally avoided adding power to even its sportiest offerings. The GR Supra saw a power bump after the first year of production, from 335 to 382 horsepower, but that was over five years ago. The GR86's engine continues to make 228 horsepower, as it has since the current generation debuted back in 2022. One potential reason for this is that the GR Corolla (and elsewhere in the world, GR Yaris) is, interestingly, the only GR offering that actually uses a Toyota-built powertrain. The former borrows an inline-six from BMW, while the latter uses a Subaru boxer.
Although the 300-horsepower GR Corolla is certainly no slouch, competitors bring the heat, too. The Civic Type R, arguably the GR Corolla's closest rival, makes 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Type R's platform-mate, the Acura Integra Type S, makes 320 horsepower. The Golf R makes 328 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Notice a trend? There are also rumors of an even toastier version of the GR Corolla, the GRMN Corolla, but rumors of a similar GRMN Supra have persisted nearly as long as the car's current generation with no follow-through. That said, that car didn't use a Toyota engine.
Whether Toyota is cooking up a spicy GRMN Corolla or just looking to dial things up a bit on the regular GR Corolla we know and love, it's a win for enthusiasts. Don't forget, back in February, we learned that Toyota is sticking with ICE and manuals indefinitely, which means R&D spent on the GR Corolla's three-cylinder is, potentially, a long-term investment. It's all good news here - and we can't wait to see what's next for Toyota's rowdy little hatchback.
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