Today, Toyota revealed their upcoming GR Corolla via Livestream on YouTube. In an interesting turn of events in the hours leading up to this, hawk-eyed reddit users discovered a new landing page for the model on the company’s official website.
We reckon this was published by mistake or unintentionally ahead of schedule, as it revealed much of what was supposed to be breaking news during the official unveiling ceremony (that, and it promptly went offline moments later).
It was as what the kids these days are calling—a leak—as most of the intimate details regarding the GR Corolla, such as its 1.6L 3-cylinder turbocharged G16E-GTS engine which produces 300 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, were made public a little sooner than Toyota would have liked.
Regardless of this slight marketing hiccup, I believe that people were always going to like what Toyota’s new hot hatch had on offer, anyway. After all, it also comes standard with the company’s coveted GR-Four all-wheel-drive system and looks like a great candidate to fill the void left by the now-departed Subaru WRX STi (and the Lancer Evolution, before it).
The optional Cold Weather package adds heated seats and a steering wheel, while the Technology Package will supplement the car with features such as navigation, an upgraded sound system, and wireless smartphone charging.
The Two Trim Choices: Core & Circuit Edition
The Toyota GR Corolla will debut in North America with two trim choices—the ‘Core’ (or base) model which will arrive first in late-2022, and an exclusive limited-run ‘Circuit Edition (CE)’ model which will arrive shortly after. Regarding the latter, Toyota stated that it will only be produced for the 2023 (launch) model year, so if you’re set on a CE model you’ll have to snatch one up pretty quickly here.
On top of performance upgrades—such as Torsen limited-slip differentials and a retuned suspension—the Circuit Edition also comes with its own unique set of wheels, a vented front bonnet, a one-off carbon fiber roof, and will offer an exclusive exterior paint color called Heavy Metal.
It also comes standard with synthetic suede and leather upholstery, and a more sporty black and red colorway. The Technology Package and Cold Weather Package—which are optional in the Core model—are also included in every CE model.
Core models will be available in white, black and red for launch, with more exterior color options likely to be added later on. The base cars can also be fitted with the CE model’s Torsen LSDs as part of the optional Performance Package.
image credit:auto-data.net/shutterstock
