Toyota takes ‘evolved’ GR Corolla to global stage

Toyota Motor Corporation has presented the “evolved” Gazoo Racing (GR) Corolla to the global stage last week in California, United States.

According to Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) — the Japanese carmaker’s motorsports division — the GR Corolla leverages insights gained by competing in motorsports events such as the Super Taikyu Series.

The souped-up hatchback (and the team’s) involvement in motor racing resulted in “evolved” high-speed cornering, acceleration, and cooling.

Here are some of the “evolved” Toyota GR Corolla’s key innovations:

• Built-in rebound springs in the front and rear shock absorbers (improves stability)
• Raised trailing arm mounting point (reduces rear sagging during acceleration)
• Revised rear coil springs and stabilizer bar spring characteristics (improves ground-gripping performance)
• Increased mid-speed engine torque
• Newly-developed eight-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission (with air-cooled automatic transmission fluid cooler)
• Improved aerodynamics for cooling and stability
• Improved anti-lock braking system
• Special bolts on select chassis components
• Improved steering
• Improved clutch pedal operability

Under the hood of the latest iteration of Toyota GR Corolla is a 1.6-liter gasoline engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission system developed by TGR.

The said setup dishes out some 299 horsepower with 400 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque, which was increased by 30 Nm from the previous version.

Toyota also slapped the nameplate with a Gazoo Racing-Four four-wheel drive system with electronic multi-plate clutch with three selectable modes. Additionally, limited slip differential systems are also installed front and back.

For its suspensions, the “evolved” Toyota GR Corolla gets a MacPherson strut at the front with a double wishbone unit at the rear. Stopping power comes from ventilated disk brakes at the front (18-inch aluminum, opposed four-pot calipers) and at the rear (16-inch aluminum, opposed two-pot calipers). They are housed in 18-inch matte black 15-spoke cast aluminum shod in 235/40 series Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires.

Toyota, noted that it is considering product rollout beyond North America.

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