4 Things To Know About the Toyota GR Corolla

The Toyota GR Corolla has been one of the most anticipated vehicle releases in the past few years, especially for drivers who love cars that put racing performance and excellence at the forefront. Below, we’ll discuss some key things to know about the Toyota GR Corolla, from its design to its transmission and more.

Not a Cookie-Cutter Toyota

Throughout its many years of producing quality vehicles, Toyota has gained a reputation, especially in North American markets, for delivering consistent, stable, and safe vehicles that are more about utility than style. But with the GR badge on its grille, the Toyota GR Corolla becomes more than a cookie-cutter hatchback designed for taking the kids to soccer practice.

The GR Corolla sports an athletic and fierce design, featuring a wide stance and broad hatch exterior that gives it a lower center of gravity and formidable performance. The Circuit Grade edition of the GR Corolla takes things a step further with more racing-inspired exterior and interior modifications, including gloss-black accents, integrated fog lamps, heated power outside mirrors, and more.

Developed from Racing Minds

Perhaps the most important thing to know about the Toyota GR Corolla is that it comes from racing heritage and racing minds. Some may not realize that the GR in the name stands for Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s famed and world-class motorsport division.

With world championships in rally and endurance driving, the Toyota GR team knows how to deliver high-quality racing performance. The GR Corolla is their latest creation that’s just as comfortable on the streets as it is on the circuit. From its stance and style to its 300-horsepower three-cylinder turbo engine, the GR Corolla is the epitome of the high-powered “hot hatch” class of street cars.

Exclusively Manual Transmission

Every inch and corner of the GR Corolla’s design is an inspiration for racing. And as every motorsport fan knows, there are no automatic transmissions on the racing circuit.

The GR Corolla understands this best, which is why Toyota exclusively offers the vehicle as a manual transmission, to the delight of racing fans. The GR Corolla embodies its racing roots with a manual transmission and flexibility to accommodate modifications, like one of our hydraulic clutch kits, flywheels, or upgraded hydraulic release bearing that will maximize its racing performance.

Toyota’s First Sports AWD in Years

Lastly, the Toyota GR Corolla also sports a Toyota vehicle innovation that hasn’t been seen in more than two decades (at least in the US, you lucky GR Yaris owners). The GR Corolla’s sports all-wheel drive (AWD) system delivers exceptional traction and control in various conditions.

The AWD’s dial means it can switch its four-wheel drive performance from the standard settings to exceptional track performance or off-road terrain and hazardous conditions like dirt, snow, or rain. This is accomplished by some very cool tech wizardry in the form of an electronically controlled electro-magnetic multi-plate clutch pack in the rear differential—boy, isn’t that a mouthful. This system is also known as the Intelligent Torque Controlled Coupling or ITCC for short. After decades of being on the shelf, Toyota has finally brought back the sports AWD system after much pleading from drivers, and the GR Corolla will be the first Toyota vehicle that allows drivers to get their hands on it again.

If you’d like to learn more about the parts we’ve developed for the GR Corolla and Yaris, check out our press release detailing everything we offer!