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It is safe to say that the Toyota GR Corolla stirred up the hot hatch segment. Thanks to the Japanese brand's GAZOO Racing division, the company returned to making exciting performance vehicles, reminiscent of the golden era of JDM sports cars. The sporty Corolla has been around since the 2022 and Toyota is rightfully bringing out a refreshed variant.
Toyota teased the revised GR Corolla ahead of Formula Drift Long Beach. My mind is immediately making the connection between the hot hatch and the Formula Drift star, Ryan Tuerck, who has a unique drift build based on the GR Corolla. Naturally, the car has been converted to rear-wheel drive, but more interestingly, it now features a longitudinally mounted Toyota 2AR engine – something you normally find in a Toyota RAV4 or a Lexus IS300h.
The camouflage hints at many new details, but doesn't tell us the most important thing
Exterior-wise, it seems Toyota adhered to the same philosophy as when they were developing the GR Yaris facelift. The revised front fascia and fender vents are not just cool to look at, but also functional. In the smaller Yaris, the G16E GTS engine needed more cooling. Toyota did that, and it seems the GR Corolla is getting the same, being the more powerful of the two hot hatchbacks.
Addressing the elephant in the room
While Toyota still has plans for is small, turbocharged three-cylinder engine, this also seems to be one of the reasons why some owners trade in their GR Corolla after less than 10,000 miles. Considering this and other developments, my question is whether the GR Corolla get a new engine or not.
We know Toyota introduced two new engines, which will replace most of the company's powerplants. One of those – a 2.0-liter turbo-four – will work in the upcoming Toyota GR Celica, as well as many Lexus models, where it will have different power outputs.
The real question is, will the new Toyota GR Corolla receive a new engine? Toyota doesn't say just yet. We know the 1.6-liter turbo-three can develop serious power when built properly, but many owners are reluctant to trust the small unit when it comes to its longevity. There have been instances where even stock G16E engines have blown up, but some debate it could be a driver misuse.
Given Toyota's big plans for its new G20E turbo engine, I would expect to see it in the GR Corolla. The unit is suited for, both, transverse and longitudinal layouts, and it is already being put into various Lexus models, for the 2026 model year. Japanese sources even claimed that Toyota has plans to put this engine in the future Supra where it would be a part of a hybrid system. Those claims, however, were contradicted not long after, when Toyota was rumored to be eye-balling Mazda's inline-six for possible use in its next sports car.
At this point, the Japanese company is tight-lipped about most of its upcoming performance models. We know the GR86 name will remain, and given what we already know, one of these three engines will be powering the entry-level Toyota sports coupe.
I am curious to hear your thoughts. Would you like the GR Corolla to receive the larger, G20E engine? I think making it stand out a bit more from the regular Corolla will benefit the hot hatchback greatly as some owners believe the interior isn't special enough. Even with its current powertrain, the GR Corolla can give these iconic performance cars a run for their money. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
Image source: Toyota press
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