Toyota wants to make GR Corolla & Yaris more powerful (>300hp), possibly leading to GRMN. Development is tough, they even broke an engine.
The GR Corolla, which first appeared in 2023, already boasts considerable performance. It recently received an update that added an eight-speed automatic transmission and increased torque from 273 lb-ft to 295 lb-ft. The current maximum output is 300 horsepower, which is not small for a 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine. The GR Yaris also produces 276 horsepower in most markets, but the Japanese domestic market model produces the same 300 horsepower as the GR Corolla.
However, according to Toyota’s chief engineer Naoyuki Sakamoto, Toyota is aiming to increase the output of this GR Corolla to over 300 horsepower. If this plan comes to fruition, he mentioned that it could be applied to the production models GR Corolla and GR Yaris.
If the power output does increase, this naturally leads to expectations for a more powerful GRMN model. Sources say that we could potentially see 330 horsepower, or even 350 horsepower. That figure would surpass the 328 horsepower of the Volkswagen Golf R or the 315 horsepower of the Honda Civic Type R. There is some basis for this expectation, as Toyota has previously tuned the BMW B58 engine for the GR Supra to produce incredible power.
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However, increasing the power output is not an easy task. Sakamoto candidly admitted in an interview that “we tried to increase the engine power with the TCR Corolla (race car), but [the engine] broke.” They added that they know the limits and how to increase the power, but they are still researching.
It seems more likely that the way to increase the power will be through ‘original tuning’ rather than using the larger and heavier 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine of the Corolla hatchback. A new turbocharged four-cylinder engine is in development, but it’s unlikely to make it to the current-generation hot hatch.
The Corolla, which will potentially wear the GRMN badge, will likely feature custom aero upgrades, new suspension settings, and possibly a wider rear track and wider, more traction-oriented tires. While no exact release date has been announced, we’re hoping to see the North American models arrive sometime this year.
We’re really looking forward to seeing how much more powerful the Toyota GR Corolla and GR Yaris will become, and what technological challenges and achievements they’ll face along the way. Let’s watch the future of the Toyota GR Corps as they bring a new tectonic shift to the hot hatch market!
Source: Motor1
Sophiya’s passion for cars ignited before she was three, and she would identify every vehicle on her street. That enthusiasm fueled her pursuit of a mechanical engineering technology degree and a career covering the auto industry. A four-time Canadian Automotive Journalism Awards winner, Sophiya now serves as president of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
