Car Profile: The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla

When you hear the word, Corolla, you get an image of that champagne colored, ubiquitous, almost to the point of being the invisible car. The one that populates roads, highways, parking lots, your great aunt’s driveway and rental agencies all around the world.

But putting the initials GR ( for Gazoo Racing) in front of Corolla is a completely different story. In doing so, Toyota has whipped up for the American market a whole new batch of badassery. Sure, there is the GR86 and the SupBMWra, but this hot hatch is something special. Here are a few stats to mull over. GR-FOUR All-wheel drive, 1.6 liter in-line 3-cylinder turbocharged engine putting out 300 HP @6500 rpm with 273 ft-lb of torque between 3000- 5500 rpm, a six-speed stick, MacPherson type front struts and double wishbone type multilink rears, front and rear Torsen limited slip differentials, and 18-inch 15-spoke cast-alloy wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. This takes the GR from 0-60 in 4.99 seconds with an electronically controlled top speed of 142.9 mph. 14 inch four-piston front calipers and 11.2 inch two-piston rear calipers with ventilated and slotted brake rotors, with a brake peddle that is very easy to modulate, are used to slow it down.