New hot hatch Toyota GR Corolla: four-wheel drive and “mechanics”
Toyota Corolla has not been so ferocious for a long time! The last “charged” version of the Corolla TS with a 1.8 compressor engine (224 hp) was withdrawn from the range back in 2006, and since then there have been no powerful and quick modifications in the range. But a few years ago, Toyota management decided to return to the production of cars with a driver and incendiary ones. The GR Supra sports car and the GR Yaris hot hatch have already appeared. True, the “hot” Yaris is sold mainly in Japan and Europe, and the new Toyota GR Corolla hatchback is being prepared mainly for the United States. Even the premiere of the car took place in California.
This time they didn't design a unique three-door body like they did with the GR Yaris. The “hot” Toyota GR Corolla retained the standard five-door body and a full-fledged interior. But the design is still adapted. In the interest of weight reduction, the hood and front doors are made of aluminum, while the roof panel is made of reinforced carbon fiber. Extension of the front fenders 20mm, rear fenders 30mm. Additional amplifiers are installed between the rear suspension struts, in the central tunnel and under the gas tank.
All equipment is taken from the younger model GR Yaris, but, again, in an adapted form. The three-cylinder 1.6-liter G16E-GTS turbo engine with combined fuel injection has found a new exhaust system, and its power has increased from 272 to 304 hp, although the torque remains the same (370 Nm). The only gearbox is a six-speed iMT “mechanics” with the function of automatically adjusting the crankshaft speed when shifting gears. In America, they love these “charged” cars only with a manual transmission – Honda Civic will not let you lie.
The GR-Four's all-wheel drive transmission was also borrowed from the Yaris. The rear axle clutch always works with preload, there are three modes and they can be selected separately from the main riding presets. Playing with the degree of clutch lock and regular brakes, electronics can transfer 40%, 50% or 70% of the drive to the rear axle. For a surcharge, a Performance package is offered, which includes front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials.
The chassis has the standard Corolla setup: McPherson struts up front and independent double wishbones at the rear. But all the elastic elements are new, the front track has been expanded by 60 mm (up to 1590 mm), the rear track has been expanded by 85 mm (up to 1620 mm). Front brakes – with four-piston mechanisms, two-piston ones are installed on the rear wheels. The car was fine-tuned not only for asphalt tracks, but also for dirt and snowy roads – GR Corolla should feel confident in rally mode.
In addition to the standard Core edition (red car in the photos), a Circuit Edition package (gray car) is offered. It includes a stiffer roof panel, a hood with additional vents, a larger rear spoiler, upgraded hardware, and a gear knob autographed by CEO Akio Toyoda.
The Toyota GR Corolla has a mechanical parking brake, while civilian versions have already switched to an electromechanical system. But instead of analog gauges (like the mighty Yaris), the new hot hatch is the first in the family to have a fully virtual instrument cluster on a 12.3-inch screen. The equipment includes heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, a multimedia system and a set of Safety Sense electronic assistants. The curb weight of the “hot” Corolla is 1475 kg, but the company does not provide dynamic characteristics. The five-door should be slightly slower than the GR Yaris, which hits 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and has a top speed of 230 km/h.
Versions of the GR will be produced separately from civilian hatchbacks, at the Motomachi plant, which also produces GR Yaris hatchbacks and Lexus LC sports cars. The Toyota GR Corolla will go on sale in the second half of this year, and apart from America, where the all-wheel-drive Volkswagen Golf R will become the main competitor, only Japan has been confirmed so far.