2024 Toyota GR Corolla automatic likely, says GR boss

UPDATE: Toyota’s go-fast division will add an automatic option for the 2024 GR Corolla “if there is customer demand”, according to company boss Tomoyo Takahashi.

The move, which seems logical given the smaller GR Yaris is now available as either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic, would give Toyota a genuine rival for the mighty Volkswagen Golf R and the popular Hyundai i30 N.

A self-shifting GR Corolla would also help to improve its 0-100km/h time and broaden its appeal to a wider customer base, leading to an increase in sales.

While Takahashi stopped short of confirming an automatic GR Corolla is coming, he told Wheels: “If there is customer demand, maybe it will be developed.”

Toyota Australia’s vice president of sales and marketing, Sean Hanley, followed Takahashi’s remark by confirming a two-pedal GR Corolla would sell well Down Under.

“Data would indicate people would gravitate towards an auto if one was available,” said Hanley.

Alex Inwood

January '24: It was only natural to ask Toyota Australia at the reveal of the facelifted 2024 GR Yaris whether the GR Corolla would get the same updates as its smaller sibling, the key change being that new eight-speed automatic transmission.

We received a typical protective answer from the local team, but we can’t begrudge them for that.

A spokesperson from Toyota Australia told Wheels: “We have no announcements to make today on any future updates to GR Corolla and the introduction of automatic transmissions.”

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Inside, the new GR Yaris gets a redesigned centre console and optional auto

Still, it's clear Toyota would be missing an opportunity if it didn't offer the ‘Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission’ in the otherwise larger, more usable GR Corolla that’s also sold in North America (where the GR Yaris is EU/Japan/Australia only).

It would undoubtedly bolster appeal, giving Toyota not only a rival for the manual-only Civic Type R but also the auto-only VW Golf R.

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It's already a peach, would an auto make it better?

How serious is Toyota about this GR-developed Auto?

You don’t have to look hard to see GR’s intentions with this automatic powertrain. At Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota’s luxury arm Lexus was showing off a GR Yaris-powered LBX concept, known as the RR Morizo.

The story goes that Akio Toyoda wanted to build a car that blended Lexus’ signature comfort and luxury with GR’s ‘fun-to-drive’ ethos. That it will make production seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened – you just have to look at the Lexus LFA.

Instead, it’s much more likely the transmission will make its way into the GR Corolla in a mid-life update. The car was lightly tweaked late last year for North America, with small changes to the suspension, steering, and battery grounding. Australia, however, only received a new ‘Eclectic Blue’ paint colour for 2024.

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The GR Corolla manual’s 0-100km/h sprint is 5.29 seconds (claimed). With a close-ratio auto on board, that should fall into the high 4.0-second range.

For reference, a Golf R with its seven-speed DSG transmission and extra 14kW (but additional 50-or-so kilos) gets to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds.

In the GR Yaris, the automatic transmission only adds 20kg to the kerb weight, which would bring the GR Corolla auto up to a still-reasonable 1505kg.

Along with the extra straight-line speed, GR is most excited about the auto's ability to free up mental aptitude when driving fast – allowing novice drivers to come closer to professional's lap times.

Along with an auto, a mid-life GR Corolla update is likely to bring similar upgrades (or even more) as made to the facelifted 224kW/400Nm GR Yaris. Improved cooling, better cabin ergonomics, and software revisions all feature.

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So, Toyota developed a manual for the Supra, and now it's made an auto for the GR Yaris?

Pricing is yet to be confirmed for the facelifted GR Yaris, but we expect an increase for the auto compared with the manual even though Toyota managed to keep the price unchanged for its manual Supra.

We’re tipping the new GR Yaris to cost about $65K on the road, so expect an auto GR Corolla to climb into the vicinity of $70-75k.

Would you be more inclined to buy a GR Corolla with an eight-speed auto than the six-speed manual? Share your thoughts below.