Toyota formalizes the upcoming arrival of a GR Corolla, a muscular version of its compact, through falsely hidden teasers on social networks. The car could take over the three-cylinder turbo and all-wheel drive from the GR Yaris.
Since last fall, the American branch of Toyota has been having fun disseminating on its Instagram account the first images of the future GR Corolla, not yet officially announced. This sporty variant of the compact appeared camouflaged, in the background of photos or the time of a subliminal appearance on video, as the surprise guest of snapshots and promotional clips dedicated to other models.
A treasure hunt on social networks
The camouflage in Gazoo Racing colors confirms that this muscular Corolla is developed by Toyota’s sports department. It will therefore enrich the GR range by reinforcing the GR Supra, GR Yaris and soon GR 86. Its latest appearance is the most revealing.
In a video dedicated to the GR 86, the time of a fraction of a second, the great “GTI” was revealed by three quarters. The inscription “GR-Four” on its sides announces that it is equipped with an all-wheel drive, like the GR Yaris. But the video in question has since been modified, and this image no longer appears there. However, we can still see part of the bow of the car.
A three-cylinder 300 hp?
From the GR Yaris, the GR Corolla could also take the three-cylinder 1.6 turbo engine developing 261 hp under the hood of the hot city car (272 hp in Japan). In Japan, Toyota is testing in competition a hydrogen Corolla powered by a modified version of this mechanism.
The stock Corolla GR could get around 300 hp from its unleaded “three legs”, enough to offer much more sensations than the current Corolla GR Sport hybrid with 184 hp CVT transmission, while being less radical than the GR Yaris in its performance according to some Japanese media.
The legacy of the Corolla in rallying
Just as much as the Yaris, the Toyota Corolla has a rallying track record to assert. In 1999, Corollas won Toyota its third WRC constructors’ championship title in the hands of Didier Auriol and Carlos Sainz.
A doubt remains however as to the marketing of the GR Corolla in Europe, since Toyota communicates about it only on its American channels for the moment. On the Old Continent, the last sporty Corolla was the TS version of the 2000s. The Toyota GR Corolla should be presented in due form in the coming months. Until then, other way teasers Where is Charlie could increase the wait.
