2023 Toyota GR Corolla headed for ASEAN market debut

Following its introduction in March this year, the Toyota GR Corolla is reportedly on its way to make its ASEAN debut by December 2022. This is heavily tipped to be taking place at the 2022 Thailand International Motor Expo. 

Toyota's latest hot hatch is en route to an ASEAN launch by December 

The model is part of Toyota Thailand’s 60th anniversary celebration, with Toyota president Akio Toyoda gracing the occasion to personally unveil the automaker’s latest hot hatch. 

Unveiled mainly for the North American market, the GR Corolla will also be sold in Japan and Australia. According to Autoindustriya, Thailand will reportedly be allocated 10 units of the five-door hot hatch, although it remains to be seen whether this is a yearly number or just an initial figure immediately following the local launch. In Australia, Toyota is setting aside 500 units that will arrive by the first quarter of 2023. 

It's being sold as a limited release in the markets where it launched so far

The automaker has yet to reveal information on the GR Corolla’s regional version, but for North America, the model runs on a 1.6-liter turbocharged G16E-GTS 3-cylinder gasoline engine. Output is at 300 horsepower and 370 Nm of torque, compared to 257 horses and 360 Nm of pull on the GR Yaris which uses the same engine. 

As with its smaller cousin, the GR Corolla spins its wheels through the GR-Four AWD system using multiple drive settings actuated by a dial and accompanied by a limited-slip differential. Toyota’s intelligent manual transmission (iMT) with rev-matching comes standard, allowing the GR Corolla to launch from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in under five seconds.

Same engine as the GR Yaris but tweaked to make more power

Aside from their obvious differences in size, the GR Corolla is distinct from the GR Yaris through the former’s use of a body shell adapted from the standard Corolla hatchback, reinforced with additional welding points, structural adhesive, and bracing. Meanwhile, the GR Yaris body shell is more bespoke in nature.          

The GR Corolla will be assembled at Toyota’s Motomachi facility in Japan alongside the GR Yaris and other GR-branded models. Toyota Thailand will reportedly be selling the GR Corolla for between THB 2.69 million (Php 4.14 million) and THB (Php 4.53 million), on account of the country’s protective tariffs on imported units. 

Will the Toyota GR Corolla make tracks for our market soon? 

Despite the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla being tantalizingly close to our shores, Toyota Motor Philippines remains mum on the prospect of the model arriving here anytime soon. Hopefully that will change in the coming days or weeks, but in the meantime, hang on to our updates at Philkotse.com.