LEAKED! Toyota GR Corolla hot-hatch design and specs revealed

UPDATE, April 1, 2022: The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla has now been officially revealed, and confirmed for Australia. Get the full story at the link below.

The story to here

The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla has been leaked, revealing both the design and key specifications for the Japanese brand’s highly anticipated hot-hatch.

Toyota’s belated answer to performance hatches such as the Ford Focus ST, Renault Megane RS and Volkswagen Golf R will produce 224kW and 370Nm from an uprated version of the GR Yaris’s 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo.

As with that 200kW pint-sized rally car for the road that shares torque output, the GR Corolla features a six-speed manual gearbox and employs a variable all-wheel-drive system.

12

Featuring the same Normal, Sport and Track modes as its smaller hot-hatch stablemate, the GR Corolla can vary the torque split between its axles: front-biased, 50-50, or with a 30-70 rear-wheel bias.

The official ‘staging’ website pages discovered on Toyota USA's website - and since deleted – reveal an aggressive look very much in sync with the smaller GR Yaris, though the Corolla is a five-door rather than three-door hatch.

The front end is dominated by a huge air intake that features the GR – Gazoo Racing – logo and is flanked by foglights and ducts for cooling the brakes (presuming these are not fake).

12

Above that is a muscular ‘powerdome’ bonnet – with dual vents that look set to be part of extra details available with the Launch Edition model pictured.

An unexpected element at the rear is a trio of exhaust pipes – with an oval-shaped central exhaust between two outer circular pipes.

The sound of the GR Corolla revving can be heard in a clip included in the Toyota online promotional material. (Embedded below.) No performance times are quoted unfortunately.

Toyota’s information says the GR Corolla has been engineered with a “circuit-tuned suspension” and wears Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres as standard.

12

The Toyota GR Corolla Launch Edition also includes a forged carbon-fibre roof (similar to the GR Yaris), 18-inch matte-black wheels, and higher-grade seats combining Ultrasuede and artificial leather.

It also gains front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials, as found on the Rallye version of the GR Yaris.

Other interior features highlighted include a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a “unique” driver display.

The Toyota GR Corolla is due to be officially revealed at 12.30pm Friday 1st April.

12