Toyota GRMN Corolla Debuts as the Most Extreme GR Corolla Yet
Toyota GRMN Corolla debuts as the ultimate GR Corolla, with Nürburgring-honed aero, a stronger chassis, more torque and a two-seat cabin.
Toyota Gazoo Racing has revealed the GRMN Corolla, a more focused and limited-production version of the GR Corolla developed through racing, Nürburgring testing and input from Akio Toyoda, also known as Morizo.
The car is positioned as the ultimate evolution of the GR Corolla. It was engineered to deliver stronger driver connection, sharper control and better high-speed stability, especially on rough and demanding surfaces like the Nürburgring.
Compared with the standard GR Corolla, the GRMN version receives a stiffer body. Toyota increased structural adhesive by 13.9 meters, while an added cooling duct helps reduce intake-air temperature during high-load driving.
The aerodynamics were developed using knowledge from the Super Taikyu Series and Nürburgring testing. The GRMN Corolla gets a carbon-fiber hood, front ducts, fender ducts, side spoilers and a rear wing. The wing has a five-step angle adjustment, allowing it to be tuned for different conditions.
The chassis has also been reworked. Toyota fitted exclusive shock absorbers with internal rebound springs, while the suspension and EPS calibration were tuned for better response at high speed. The car rides on 245/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
Power still comes from the 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder G16E-GTS engine, but torque has been increased from 400 Nm to 415 Nm. Maximum output remains listed at 224 kW, or about 300 hp. The engine gains improvements inspired by Toyota’s hydrogen-powered Corolla race program.
The GRMN Corolla is available with a six-speed manual transmission or a close-ratio transmission setup, depending on market specification. Power is sent through Toyota’s GR-FOUR active torque-split all-wheel-drive system, with exclusive 4WD control tuning.
To save weight, the GRMN Corolla removes the rear seats and becomes a two-seater. Toyota says the power-to-weight ratio improves by about 30 kg compared with the base model.
Inside, the car receives a custom driver’s seat developed to improve body support during hard cornering. It also gets a special instrument panel, GRMN-exclusive trim, red-accented details, an aluminum shift knob and a numbered serial plate.
Toyota is also developing a GR Corolla Morizo RR concept, a five-seat version equipped with the Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission. Launch timing for that version has not yet been confirmed.
The GRMN Corolla will be sold in limited numbers, mainly in Japan, North America and Australia. Applications in Japan will be accepted through the GR app from autumn 2026, with sales scheduled to begin in 2027.
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