TESTED 1.9.22, UTAH MOTORSPORTS CAMPUS, US ON SALE NOW (US)
'Zero to hero' best charts Gazoo Racing's rapid rise to widespread acclaim. From its 2019 start with the GR Supra to the astonishing GR Yaris that followed in 2020 and then the sublime GR86 coupé, it has earned our love and respect for its unique way of consistently nailing the affordable sports car brief.
This year, it has further expanded its portfolio by launching a manual GR Supra (see right), but first it's time for the headline act: the GR Corolla.
Looking every inch a rally refugee, this hot hatch packs the mightiest of visual punches. Nothing is fake about it, and every element serves the single purpose of going very fast indeed.
It's sold in Core, Circuit, and Morizo guises, the third one demonstrating how far Toyota's black ops have come. It bins the rear seats and luxuries like the electric rear windows, speakers, and rear wiper to shave about 30kg off the portly 1470kg kerb weight.
Add in lighter, 18in rims, a closer-ratio gearbox and the option of two Torsen differentials and you realize just how serious Gazoo is in its bid to create the hottest hatch of all time.
So it's all the more frustrating that the GR Corolla won't come to Britain, despite our appetite for hot hatches. But we decided to torture ourselves anyway to see what we're missing on the GR Corolla's American debut.
This story is from the September 21, 2022 edition of Autocar UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 21, 2022 edition of Autocar UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MCLAREN ARTURA
A supercar that can do 1285 miles on one tank of fuel? Maybe after the update...
FORD RANGER RAPTOR
Stepping out of a tiny roadster and into the largest car on our fleet
BMW X6
Munich's fastest full-size SUV-coupé gets mid-life powertrain and chassis tweaks
Is Silence golden?
A Spanish firm has used its electric motorbike tech to create a miniature electric car' that we can buy in the UK. Matt Prior has a go
A DRAM WITHOUT DRAMA
The fabulously cultivated W12 engine that revitalised Bentley is retiring, at the same time as a very different type of Bentley arrives. Mark Tisshaw drives a Flying Spur up to Scotland for a first and last taste
BMW iX2
Sportier, more stylish alternative to the underwhelming IX] arrives in the UK
VOLKSWAGEN ID 5
More powerful motors, more efficient battery and improved ergonomics for EV
YANGWANG U8
The maker of the Seal and the Dolphin produces a car that can actually swim
MASERATI GRECALE FOLGORE
Big SUV relinquishes V6 engine as Italian luxury brand initiates electric transition
SKODA SUPERB ESTATE
Fourth-generation load-carrying stalwart sticks with tradition and retains its very conventional estate car form