Toyota NZ delights a few special Kiwis with the GR Corolla

The Toyota GR Corolla is limited to only 150 in 2023 for New Zealand. Photo: Liz Dobson

Forget everything you know about your normal Corolla hatchback, instead meet the GR performance model that’s been developed by Toyota’s Gazoo Racing and has plenty of attitude.

Only 150 of the GR Corolla hatches were allocated to Toyota New Zealand in 2023, so the company plans to offer them in three ballots, the first of which was oversubscribed. 

The second ballot opens today at midday and closes on 17 April.

While the GR range makes up for only two percent of sales for Toyota NZ, it saw more than 1000 people enter the first ballot for the 50 cars. Unsuccessful applicants from the first ballot have been advised to reapply again.

So what makes the Toyota GR Corolla so special, and sought after?

The GR Corolla showed it paced at the Highlands Park race track. Photo: Toyota NZ Media

First, let’s look at the name “Gazo”. In Japanese the word originally meant 'picture' or 'image' but now refers to ‘garage’.

Gazoo Racing develops rally and endurance cars for the brand plus pushes the limits for better higher performance, higher efficient powertrains for Toyota.

Built at the same factory as the GR Yaris, by special craftspeople, it takes 10 times longer to build a GR Corolla than a normal Corolla. 

For example, the precision of the suspension is very important for a sports car, so every part of the suspension system is measured. Then, using AI, parts are combined to get the very best outcome to cancel out the smallest variety in manufacturing. 

Then using Takami (meaning artisan) craftsmanship, the GR Corolla body, and suspension are precisely docked together.

GR Corolla sports a 221kW /370Nm 1.6L turbocharged engine with 21kW more power than the same engine in the GR Yaris, paired with a six-speed Intelligent Manual Transmission.

Showcasing its capabilities to put power to the ground, its GR-FOUR AWD system automatically distributes power from a 50/50 split, up to 30/70 front and rear, for ultimate traction. It also has enhanced driving with Normal, Sport, and Track Modes for the hot hatch. 

While adopting the basic body framework of the Toyota Corolla to enable it to inherit the high-speed stability of a long wheelbase, the GR Corolla employs a wider track up front and, in the rear, to command a high level of cornering performance.

Toyota fans also entered their cars in the show and shine event. Photo: Toyota NZ Media

The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla will be priced at $74,990 driveway and you can enter the ballot here.

Toyota NZ decided to launch the GR Corolla at a special owner event for the Japanese brand at Cromwell’s Highland Park race track.

The track held the 10th anniversary of the ​​Toyota NZ Gazoo Racing festival which saw 70 vehicles on the track on Saturday while 169 vehicles took part in the show and shine event. It was an amazing array of Toyota vehicles on the track, from MR2s, Starlets, Supras, a Japanese import Crown taxi, and even a Hiace van. 

The next day had four-wheel-drive vehicles heading up to the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground for some tough off-roading.

The day before the festival, we media drove from Queenstown to Cromwell via the Crown Range and Wanaka in several special Toyotas; the GR supra, and an anniversary 86. I had the manual GR Corolla that easily handled the tight turns of the Crown Range and the drive was more scenic than sporty.

But the next day showed what the GR Corolla was built for during track sessions. While the first two sessions saw me drive the GR Supra and 86 on a short circuit I was lucky enough to have the GR Corolla manual in two full circuit sessions.

I had learned from previous sessions that I put the car in track mode, and it just needed to be in third gear around the tight turns and in fourth in the straights, which saw the car easily hit 200km/h with plenty of power and gears left for higher speeds. But as the formation was “follow the leader” behind a driving instructor, we couldn’t put too much pressure on GR Corolla. 

While the GR Supra delighted in being low to the ground, the GR Corolla had it all: balance, performance, and sporty styling.

The GR Corolla has a 1.6L turbocharged engine. Photo: Toyota NZ Media