Add the GR Yaris’ turbocharged three-cylinder engine to the mix and you’ll have an incredibly fun hatchback
The Toyota GR Yaris has been a sell-out success with order books full for two years within months of its launch, prompting Toyota to open a new order book for 2023 deliveries. Now, the Japanese automaker is looking to repeat the success with its larger sibling – the GR Corolla.
The GR Corolla (assuming that’s what it will be called) has been talked about for a while now and with the abundance of information available online, we might have some idea of what Toyota’s next blistering hatchback is going to be like.
First of all, the car will be based on the European market Corolla Hatchback (pictured) and is expected to be a hatchback-only affair. That being said, we’d be more than happy to welcome sedan or wagon (Touring) versions of the car.
Styling-wise, it shouldn’t stray too far off the GR Yaris, meaning it would have, among others, wide haunches, a large front opening for maximum cooling, a prominent roof spoiler, as well as a rear diffuser with round exhaust tips on either side.
Toyota USA had previously released a teaser for the GR Corolla and while the car in subject is hidden in the shadows, it can be clearly seen that it has a gaping front end.
As for what’s under the skin, the GR Corolla will reportedly make use of the standard car’s MacPherson strut front suspension and a version of the GR Yaris’ multi-link rear suspension. This is possible as the GR Yaris is built on a combination of the TNGA-B platform with the rear section adopted from the TNGA-C platform which is utilised by the Corolla.
Powering the GR Corolla will be the fan-favourite G16E-GTS 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which Toyota will squeeze out to obtain more power and torque. Speaking of which, the automaker could easily crank up the engine to produce around 315 PS and 400 Nm should they decide to go after the Volkswagen Golf R.
After all, the very same engine would have easily made 375 PS and 450 Nm in the WRC-spec Yaris, which as you may already know, met its demise before it could compete no thanks to COVID-19.
Tasked to channel the power to the ground will be a six-speed manual, which will be mated with Toyota’s all-wheel-drive system dubbed the GR-Four. In the GR Yaris, the AWD system is capable of sending the 70% of the torque to the rear wheels in Sport mode. In Normal, 60% of the torque goes to the front wheels while Track mode splits the torque evenly between the axles.
