300 PS Toyota GR Corolla now in Southeast Asia
After its global debut, Toyota GR Corolla revealed at 39th Thailand International Motor Expo
Earlier this year, Toyota wowed everyone when they officially unleashed the GR Corolla. With 300 PS from a boosted 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine that's paired to an AWD system with a 6-speed manual gearbox, the hot hatch now serves as the automaker's latest model from the GR portfolio.
Fast forward to the tail-end of 2022, and the pocket rocket from Toyota has officially made its way to Southeast Asia. That's right, the all-new GR Corolla has been revealed for the ASEAN market. Making its regional debut at this year's Thailand International Motor Expo, the all-new hot hatch is retailing for an eye-watering THB 3.949 million. Convert that to Philippine Pesos, and you're looking at a price tag of around PHP 6.350 million.
What do you get with that kind of money? As mentioned earlier, it comes with a 1.6-liter G16E-GTS turbocharged three-cylinder engine. While it may be similar to the GR Yaris' powerplant, the one in the GR Corolla produces more as it's rated to crank out 300 PS and 370 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to all four wheels via the GR-Four AWD system and a proper 6-speed manual transmission with auto rev match. 0 – 100 km/h, on the other hand, is easily dispatched in 5.5 seconds.
Aside from having a souped-up inline-three, the GR Corolla also features a sleek body kit that consists of aggressive bumpers, a massive air intake, corner intakes that are designed to cool the brakes during a hot lap, and canards that provide additional downforce and aerodynamics. Also worth mentioning on the exterior of the GR Corolla is the unique triple exhaust, 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/40 series tires, a vented hood, a forged carbon fiber roof, and automatic LED headlights.
Inside, the occupants are treated to a race-inspired interior complete with GR leather-suede sport seats, a three-spoke leather steering wheel, GR-badged headrests, and a short-throw shifter. There's also a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charger, and 7 airbags. For extra peace of mind, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 comes standard on the GR Corolla.
According to our friends over at headlightmag.com, only 9 units will be brought to Thailand initially. With that, we can expect the GR Corolla to be a rare sight in The Land of Smiles. Combined with its (very) premium price tag, we won't be surprised if almost all of the initial units brought to the country have already been spoken for.
Since it's already in Thailand, could the GR Corolla make its way to the Philippines sometime next year? There is still no word (or rumors) regarding that matter. However, we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for any possible leaks or insider information that could signal the GR Corolla's possible arrival in the Philippines.
