The automotive market has welcomed an exciting addition with the all-new 2023 Toyota GR Corolla arriving on sale in Australia. The latest performance hot hatch from Toyota’s Gazoo Racing department has been highly anticipated and it looks set to deliver a thrilling drive experience that will make it one of the most desirable cars in its segment.
As part of their ongoing commitment to developing high-performance road vehicles, Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR) has pulled out all the stops for this new model. It features a custom suspension setup that includes optimised geometry and stiffer anti-roll bars, as well as large brakes and grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres wrapped around 18-inch alloy wheels – ensuring maximum agility when cornering at speed or coming into tight bends.
Power comes from a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine which produces 221kW of power and 370Nm of torque. This is delivered through a six-speed manual transmission and GR-Four all-wheel drive, which offers a standard torque distribution of 60:40 or up to 30:70 front-to-rear. Limited-slip differentials are employed at the front and rear axles.
The hardcore Morizo Edition comes with only two front seats (back seats removed) and weighs about 45kg less than the standard model. It also unlocks an extra 30Nm (approximately) from the engine, and comes equipped with 18-inch BBS forged wheels with Michelin Cup 2 tyres, special brakes, chassis reinforcements, and a carbon roof. A bunch of unique highlights are added inside, too.
As you’d expect from any modern sporty vehicle, the standard GR Corolla in Australia, called the GTS, comes with an 8.0-inch touch-screen showcasing Toyota’s latest multimedia operating system with Toyota Connected Services, as well as a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster display and colour head-up display. Wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay are included, as well as digital radio, satellite navigation, and dynamic voice recognition.
Toyota Australia says it has locked in 700 units for customers for the first year on sale, and just 25 examples of the Morizo Edition. Prices kick off from the following (before on-road costs):
2023 Toyota GR Corolla GTS: $62,300
2023 Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Edition: $77,800
Options:
Premium paint: $575
Matte paint (Morizo Edition only): $2500