Toyota GR Corolla 1st Gen
2023-present
HPDE Overview
The GR Corolla is Toyota's rally-bred hot hatch, and it brings genuine motorsport pedigree to the street. The 1.6L three-cylinder turbo engine — the most powerful production three-cylinder ever — produces 300 hp and drives all four wheels through a GR-Four AWD system with an adjustable front/rear torque split (60/40, 50/50, or 30/70). The car was developed by Gazoo Racing, and it shows. On track, the GR Corolla feels alive. The three-cylinder engine has a unique character — it sounds different from a four-cylinder and produces torque with an urgency that belies its tiny displacement. The AWD system provides confidence-inspiring traction in all conditions. In the 30/70 rear-biased mode, the car rotates more eagerly and feels almost like an AWD car pretending to be RWD. The challenges are weight and heat management. At 3,250+ lbs, the GR Corolla is heavy for a car with a 1.6L engine. The turbo system generates tremendous heat, and the stock cooling is marginal for sustained track use. The clutch is also a known weak point under aggressive track driving.