2026 Toyota GR Corolla variant teased – new aero package, increased torque, unique suspension tuning

Some interesting news coming out of the Formula Drift Long Beach weekend as Toyota has teased a new high-performance variant of the already red-hot GR Corolla. The car sports some eye-catching aerodynamic enhancements beyond what was already added as part of last year’s facelift.

Despite the usual Gazoo Racing camouflage doing its best to obscure the new bits, the eagle-eyed among you will be able to notice details such as the subtle front flics, an additional bonnet vent on the leading edge of the power dome and a massive rear spoiler.

But perhaps the most aggressive of these changes are the new front fenders, which not only get redesigned vents but also an additional row of apertures above the wheel arches. These were presumably added to reduce turbulence in the wheel wells.

Toyota also promised some extra torque coming from the 1.6 litre G16E-GTS turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which currently fires 304 PS and 400 Nm of torque to all four wheels via either a six-speed manual gearbox or the new eight-speed GR Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT). The car will also feature unique suspension tuning to take advantage of this.

Reports have suggested that this is the oft-rumoured GRMN Corolla, but the Masters of Nürburgring tag is usually reserved for the most hardcore of Toyota Gazoo Racing vehicles; this car’s tweaks go about halfway in that direction.

Perhaps a clue can be taken from the wheel and tyre package – the prototype rides on 18-inch BBS forged rollers shod in sticky track-ready Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber. This, along with what appears to be a lack of rear seats, suggests the return of the Morizo Edition that disappeared with the advent of the facelift.

The hotted-up hot hatch follows in the footsteps of the GR Yaris Aero Package, which proffered similar modifications to the GR Corolla’s smaller three-door sibling. That car is still a prototype at the moment, with no word on a launch timeline.

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