- Toyota is making waves in the performance car segment, and its newest model, the GR Corolla, is a prime example of just how fun Toyota can be.
- Previously promised as a 2023-only trim, Toyota is bringing back the middling Circuit edition for 2024 with new paint and a bigger trunk spoiler.
- Bolstering the chassis through the use of additional mounting bolts makes up the primary mechanical change for the 2024 GR Corolla, which will go on sale this winter.
The small subset of street-born, rally-bred cars that we once knew and loved is dying around us. To be blunt, the category would be on life support if it wasn’t for Toyota. That’s because Toyota launched the Gazoo Racing (GR) Corolla early last year, and it’s been received with an appropriate level of fanfare.
But the GR Corolla isn’t just another all-wheel-drive performance car. It is Toyota’s answer to the graveyard that is the Subaru WRX STI, the Ford Focus RS, and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. And who cares if it’s a little late to the game, especially when it’s so much fun to drive? Equipped with 300 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque from the turbocharged G16E-GTS 1.6-liter 3-cylinder turbo engine, a 6-speed manual transmission, and a tunable AWD-split, initial impressions from our own Associate Editor Wesley Wren showed $37,000 worth of hot hatch fun down to the cent.
The GR Corolla will return in 2024, too. But being prudent and particularly enthusiast-focused as of late, Toyota made a few changes to the car. In revamping its entire performance lineup for 2024, the Japanese company is planning to keep the Circuit trim level, meaning you can still get a reasonably priced GR Corolla without being subjected to open differential driving. And the brilliant Blue Flame color takes a page right out of—I hate to say it—Subaru’s book with its infamous HyperBlue color. Regardless of a brand alliance, AWD performance cars with a rally pedigree should all be bright blue, right?
At 3186 pounds, these four-piston front calipers don’t have to work too hard.
New forged aluminum BBS shoes in an 18-inch size come standard in addition to a new carbon-fiber roof, reducing the overall curb weight. A new hatch-lid spoiler is also included on the GR Corolla Circuit edition, though most consumers will never see the majority of changes found on 2024 model-year cars. And most of these changes focus on giving drivers more confidence when the road gets fast and twisty.
“Material updates include mounting bolt changes to the steering gear, rear suspension, and battery ground,” Toyota’s official announcement reads, but what exactly does this mean for driving enjoyment? Including additional mounting bolts simply adds structural rigidity to areas that are bound to experience high loads and harsh inputs, a Toyota representative explained. Toyota has also fitted aluminum sheets to the front and rear bumpers to increase aerodynamics at high speeds. Finally, GR engineers reworked the duct shape to the front bumper airflow outlet to minimize turbulence over the wheels.
At a glance, the 2024 GR Corolla appears to be all looks but these small material changes continue to cement the idea that Toyota performance cars are back and here to stay. And these changes certainly won’t hurt the GR Corolla’s sales figures, as Toyota said it upped production to meet demand earlier this year. Pricing has yet to be announced but prospective buyers (who are likely willing to pay dealer-charged markups) can expect 2024 units to go on sale this winter.
What is your favorite historic hot hatch and why? Please share your thoughts below.
Associate Editor
A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a 2003 Honda Nighthawk 750 street parked in his South Brooklyn community.
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