Toyota teases “hardcore” GR Corolla – possible GRMN version?

Among the tire smoke and sideways action of Formula Drift’s season opener, Toyota quietly stole the spotlight with a camouflaged prototype of what appears to be a more extreme variant of its GR Corolla hot hatch.

Though draped in Gazoo Racing’s familiar swirl-wrap, the prototype couldn’t hide a slew of aerodynamic upgrades that go well beyond the changes introduced with last year’s facelift. Up front, subtle flics have been added to the bumper corners, complemented by an extra bonnet vent perched just ahead of the power dome. Around the back, a towering rear spoiler dominates the tailgate—more race-ready than rally-bred.

But it’s the front fenders that truly grab attention. They now feature aggressive new vent designs, with a secondary row of apertures above the wheel arches—presumably to reduce wheel-well turbulence and manage airflow more efficiently at speed.

Toyota has confirmed that the prototype will feature increased torque from the existing 1.6-litre G16E-GTS turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which currently produces 304 PS and 400 Nm. Power will still be sent to all four wheels via either the six-speed manual gearbox or the newer eight-speed GR Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT), and the suspension has reportedly been retuned to match the car’s more focused intent.

While speculation is swirling around this being the long-rumoured GRMN Corolla, the updates don’t seem to push the car into full Nürburgring-honed territory. GRMN short for Gazoo Racing Masters of Nürburgring is typically reserved for the most uncompromising offerings in Toyota’s high-performance catalogue. This prototype, by contrast, feels more like a spiritual successor to the Morizo Edition.

That theory gains weight when you examine the hardware. The car sits on lightweight 18-inch BBS forged wheels, shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres—rubber usually reserved for track day weapons. Inside, the rear seats appear to be missing altogether, echoing the formula used for the original Morizo: lighter, sharper, and unapologetically driver-focused.

The prototype follows the template of the recently revealed GR Yaris Aero Package, which showcased similar enhancements in a smaller, three-door format. Like its sibling, the upgraded GR Corolla remains a prototype for now, with no firm word on production or launch dates.

Still, this latest showing reinforces Toyota’s commitment to performance. And for fans of GR’s raw, rally-bred DNA, it’s yet another sign that the best may be yet to come.