Eight months on from the reveal of the facelifted GR Yaris, Toyota has introduced a lot of the identical updates to its bigger sibling, the GR Corolla. The revamp brings with it a gentle redesign and a few performance-oriented additions, together with a brand new transmission choice to affix the guide gearbox.
The corporate’s five-door scorching hatch retains its rally-bred G16E-GTS 1.6 litre turbocharged and direct-injected three-cylinder engine. However whereas energy holds station at 304 PS at 6,500 rpm, peak torque has risen by 30 Nm to 400 Nm, made between 3,250 and 4,600 rpm. These are the identical figures as on the most recent GR Yaris and, certainly, the Lexus LBX Morizo RR.
Additionally shared with these vehicles is the brand new eight-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Computerized Transmission, which has been developed to ship the quickest doable downshift and anticipate the suitable gear choice based mostly on brake and throttle enter, as an alternative of solely car behaviour – resulting in shifting that Toyota says is just like an expert driver’s.
The gearbox additionally will get heat-resistant clutch materials, a brand new torque management system and a compact, high-response linear solenoid. A brand new launch management operate has additionally been added to auto fashions for optimised off-the-line acceleration. After all, purists can nonetheless go for the honest-to-goodness six-speed guide (now with a brand new dual-mass flywheel) with automated rev-matching.
Irrespective of which model you go for, the GR Corolla retains its trademark GR-4 all-wheel-drive system. Similar to the on the GR Yaris, its operation has been modified – the torque cut up now goes from 60:40 front-to-rear in Regular to 50:50 in Gravel (beforehand 30:70 in Sport), whereas Monitor has a variable torque cut up from 60:40 to 30:70 relying on the driving situations (beforehand locked at 50:50). Entrance and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials, hitherto unique to the Circuit Version, are actually commonplace.
The outgoing GR Corolla didn’t precisely need for a lot by way of driving dynamics, however Toyota has nonetheless seen match to hone the chassis additional. Rebound entrance and rear springs suppress internal wheel elevate throughout exhausting cornering to enhance traction, whereas the rear spring and anti-roll bars have been retuned to extend floor contact response and controllability within the bends.
In the meantime, the trailing arm mounting level has been raised to scale back rear squat below acceleration. This prevents the car posture from altering an excessive amount of, enhancing the accelerative pressure and offering higher stability when cornering.
Offering a visible indicator to the great under-the-skin reengineering is a redesigned entrance bumper, that includes an identical design to the GR Yaris. Bigger nook air inlets and the deletion of fog lights improve cooling capability, notably to the transmission oil cooler on auto fashions.
A further sub-radiator, commonplace on top-spec fashions and elective elsewhere, supplies extra engine cooling. There are additionally new brake ducts and an air curtain that directs air across the entrance wheels, decreasing turbulence within the wheel wells and rising dealing with stability.
No adjustments to the remainder of the outside, which continues to function a bulging vented bonnet, heavily-blistered fenders with entrance vents, a carbon fibre roof, a big tailgate spoiler and a sizeable rear diffuser with distinctive triple exhausts. Inside, the GR Corolla will get a darker end on the trim (beforehand silver) and switches (beforehand chrome) for a sportier look.
As but, there’s no data on when the GR Corolla will arrive in Malaysia, together with pricing; the pre-facelift mannequin at the moment retails at RM355,000. For now, what do you consider the upgrades and the brand new automated gearbox? Pontificate within the feedback after the soar.
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