It’s been over a year since Toyota announced it was developing a more powerful GR Corolla, leaving us wondering whether it would carry the GRMN badge. Thankfully, our prediction was spot on, and the “Gazoo Racing Meister of the Nürburgring” has officially arrived. While not a radical departure from the GR Corolla, it does bring improvements across the board.
Let’s start with the engine. Toyota’s turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder still makes 300 horsepower, but torque has been bumped from 295 to 302 pound-feet. Since some of the images we’ve included show the Japanese version, it’s worth noting that the JDM-spec GRMN Corolla produces slightly more torque, at 306 pound-feet.
View Price on AmazonInterestingly, the extra power extracted from the G16E-GTS (shared with the GR and GRMN Yaris) was made possible by applying lessons learned while testing the GR Corolla race car with a hydrogen-fueled engine. Aside from a bit more peak torque, there’s also more of it in the midrange. At full tilt, the GRMN’s newly added intercooler spray system keeps temperatures at optimal levels for sustained power delivery.
Echoing the hardcore Morizo Edition from a few years ago, the GRMN Corolla sacrifices practicality by deleting the rear seats, shaving off 66 pounds compared to the regular GR. Also derived from the hydrogen race car mentioned earlier, the aerodynamic package features a five-way adjustable rear wing. The muscular body kit also includes hood and front fender ducts, as well as front side spoilers.
While the GR Corolla rides on 235/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires, the GRMN gets wider, stickier 245/40 ZR18 Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber wrapped around 18-inch, 10-spoke forged wheels finished in matte bronze. The new wheels wear GR badging instead of the Toyota logo as part of a broader effort to turn Gazoo Racing into a standalone sub-brand.
Elsewhere, Toyota modified the suspension by fitting new front and rear monotube shock absorbers. Engineers also worked on the all-wheel-drive system and electric power steering to make the GRMN Corolla even better on the track and create what the company calls the “ultimate” version of its hot hatch.
Source: motor1.com
