Toyota GR Corolla Leaked Ahead of Official Debut

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

Launching a new vehicle under embargo must be a stressful endeavor for all those who are involved on the OEM side.

Take the Toyota GR Corolla. The brand has been so careful to build up interest via teases, and has plans to take the wraps off tonight — and it all got spoiled by some careless management of the company’s consumer Web site.

We’ll write up the official unveil tomorrow, but the key specs and features should match what the leak reveals. That means the car will have a 1.6-liter turbo-four (UPDATE: It’s probably a three-cylinder. My bad.) with 300 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, a six-speed “intelligent” stick (we’re not sure what that means — maybe rev-matching?), all-wheel drive with a torque split that can range from 50/50 to 30/70 (percent) front to rear, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials, three drive modes (normal, sport, and track), functional exterior vents for aerodynamics and cooling, a different gauge cluster, a forged carbon-fiber roof, a vented hood, matte black 18-inch wheels, and Ultrasuede and synthetic leather-trimmed seats.

Expect to see those same specs and more listed when the actual wraps come off. For now, gaze upon the car in all its unhidden glory.

[Images: Toyota]

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments
Join the conversation
5 of 36 comments
  • Kcflyer Kcflyer on Apr 01, 2022

    So it is a type R with AWD and both port and direct injection.....win!

  • Tylanner Tylanner on Apr 01, 2022

    drool worthy...ICEs going out with a BANG.

    • See 2 previous
    • Superdessucke Superdessucke on Apr 01, 2022

      @ToolGuy Yeah, the more I think about it, the less likely I am to believe that average people are going be able to get their hands this. Unless you scored some PPP funds, you'll have to admire this one from afar, and close your eyes from the driver's seat of your Rav-4 and pretend.

  • MaintenanceCosts Poorly packaged, oddly proportioned small CUV with an unrefined hybrid powertrain and a luxury-market price? Who wouldn't want it?
  • MaintenanceCosts Who knows whether it rides or handles acceptably or whether it chews up a set of tires in 5000 miles, but we definitely know it has a "mature stance."Sounds like JUST the kind of previous owner you'd want…
  • 28-Cars-Later Nissan will be very fortunate to not be in the Japanese equivalent of Chapter 11 reorganization over the next 36 months, "getting rolling" is a luxury (also, I see what you did there).
  • MaintenanceCosts RAM! RAM! RAM! ...... the child in the crosswalk that you can't see over the hood of this factory-lifted beast.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Yes all the Older Land Cruiser’s and samurai’s have gone up here as well. I’ve taken both vehicle ps on some pretty rough roads exploring old mine shafts etc. I bought mine right before I deployed back in 08 and got it for $4000 and also bought another that is non running for parts, got a complete engine, drive train. The mice love it unfortunately.
Next