The Toyota GRMN Corolla is the ultimate version of the hot hatch

The Toyota GR Corolla is already one hell of a hot hatch with its rally-derived powertrain and chassis. There was a hotter, limited version of it called the Morizo Edition, which was a track-focused variant that ditched the rear seats, gained a carbon fiber roof, and had a stiffer body, all while losing weight.

However, Toyota has decided to go all out and make the best version of a road-legal GR Corolla with the GRMN Corolla. For those who didn’t know, GRMN stands for Gazoo Racing (tuned by the) Meister of the Nürburgring, and this very special designation has only been applied to a handful of limited-run models, some of which include a Toyota Century, GT86, and most recently, the GRMN Yaris.

The GRMN Corolla is developed to the standard of being able to handle the Nürburgring and be controlled at will at all speeds, which is one of the world’s most grueling circuits with a whole bevy of surfaces and elevation changes that can break even dedicated race cars. 

Toyota’s know-how from the Super Taikyu series in Japan has also been applied in several aspects, such as the all-new aero package, mostly made from carbon fiber, which includes a more aggressive front bumper, hood ducts, front side spoilers, fender flares with ducts, and the adjustable rear wing that improves downforce and grip at high speeds.

The suspension gets exclusive shock absorbers with rebound springs to improve inner wheel traction and high-speed cornering performance, especially on tracks like the Nürburgring where vertical suspension travel varies greatly depending on which part of the circuit you’re on.

The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires that wrap around the forged matte bronze 18-inch wheels are now 10mm wider than the standard GR Corolla, and modifications to the electric power steering and 4WD control system improve cornering and straight-line stability at high speeds.

The 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbo engine, the G16E-GTS, gets increased engine torque, which is now bumped up to 415Nm from 400Nm on the standard GR Corolla, but horsepower remains the same at 304. This also gets better cooling thanks to a cool air duct and an intercooler spray system, and the six-speed manual transmission now gets closer ratios.

Just like the Morizo Edition, the GRMN Corolla ditches the rear seats, but also gets full bucket seats to hold the driver in place, alongside additional carbon fiber accents and flocking on the dashboard and a-pillars to reduce glare, and red accents alongside a GRMN-exclusive serial number plate.

Also, for those looking for a slightly more practical version of the GRMN Corolla, there is a GR Corolla Morizo RR Concept, which is under development. It sports five seats and the eight-speed GR Direct Auto Transmission, alongside an exclusive color and yellow accents.

Now, here’s the kicker. While still a limited edition, the GRMN Corolla will be offered globally, with it offered primarily in Japan, Australia, and North America, where the full bucket seats are semi-bucket seats due to regulations. That means the chances of the GRMN Corolla officially being sold by Toyota Motor Philippines are slim, but there. 

^{Photos from Toyota}