It’s official. The most powerful, stylish, and agile hot hatch you all have been waiting for is finally here. Well, almost. Toyota USA has officially announced the first-ever 2023 GR Corolla performance hatchback, and we couldn’t wait to tell you more about it here at Ammar’s Toyota of Vacaville in Vacaville, CA. So stay tuned and continue reading this blog.
Late last month, Toyota USA shared a press release announcing the debut of the first-ever 2023 GR Corolla, which will be the latest addition to the brand’s growing lineup of performance-oriented sports cars and brings the performance, handling, and functionality that hot hatch fans love. It’s also the newest model from Toyota’s GAZOO Racing team, after the 2022 GR Supra and GR86 sports cars.
The 2023 GR Corolla will be powered by a lightweight, compact-yet-powerful G16E-GTS turbo-charged, 1.6L, 3-cylinder direct/port-injected turbo engine that delivers 300 hp and 273 pound-feet of torque. Engineered for snappy acceleration and zip-through corners, the GR Corolla hits peak torque at 3000-5500 rpm, with its max horsepower coming at 6500 rpm. The GR Corolla’s adrenaline-pumping power is piped through a specially designed triple exhaust that reduces backpressure for maximum power delivery.
Also read: What is the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross?
The turbo-charged G16-E engine in the 2023 GR Corolla comes paired with Toyota’s rally-developed GR-FOUR All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system. This system features three driving modes – Normal, Sport, and Track – with each mode featuring customizable front-rear power settings giving you a choice of 60-40, 70-30, and 50-50 torque distribution settings for the front and rear wheels. The 2023 GR Corolla will be offered exclusively in a six-speed manual transmission, staying true to its rally roots. And unlike the standard Corolla, the GR comes with an exclusive manual handbrake.
The 2023 GR Corolla’s broad hatch profile and lower center of gravity are based on Toyota’s GA-C platform. The hot hatch will be a Genuine Toyota sportscar born from rally racing, with enhanced reinforcements to the frame and precision built at the GR Factory at Toyota’s Motomachi Plant. The GR Corolla has been tested to meet Toyota’s highest standard set by master driver Akio Toyoda and professional TOYOTA GAZOO Racing drivers.
The all-new 2023 GR Corolla will be available in two grades – Core and Circuit Edition, with the Core Grade coming later this year in white, black, and Supersonic Red colorways. It will have a color-keyed roof with a black rear lip spoiler, GR-FOUR stamped side rockers and wide-fender flares. The five-seater will come with exclusive GR logo fabric sports seats.
The Circuit Edition will be a limited-edition model available only in 2023. It will come in white, Supersonic Red, and Heavy Metal exterior color options and feature the same GR-FOUR stamped side rockers and wide fenders as the Core model. However, it will add a forged carbon-fiber roof, a vented bulge hood, a sporty rear spoiler, Brin Naub® suede-trimmed sport seats with red accents, and a launch-year-exclusive Morizo signed shift knob.
The GR Corolla will also come equipped with Toyota’s brand-new Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen system. Buyers will also get a complimentary 1-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association, featuring a High-Performance Driving Event with expert instructions.
Toyota hasn’t revealed the pricing yet, but we expect to get more details later this year.
If you’re excited about the forthcoming 2023 GR Corolla and want to be one of the first to get behind the wheel of one in Vacaville, CA, then reserve one at Ammar’s Toyota of Vacaville today. You can also check out our online inventory to find all the latest Toyota models or call our experts to learn more.