An even more capable version of the fastest Corolla on sale has been teased by the car maker, which Toyota Australia says could be sold here.
The successor to the Toyota GR Corolla Morizo – a track-focused special edition with two seats – could be on its way to Australian showrooms, following teaser images of an even more capable version of the brand’s just-updated hot hatch.
Officially named the GR Corolla Development Vehicle, the camouflaged hot hatch was revealed by Toyota in the US in a red and black camouflage wrap, wearing a series of performance-oriented styling changes.
Visible are new vents on the bonnet and front wheel arches, a much larger rear spoiler, and the 18-inch forged BBS wheels from the defunct Morizo, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 track-day tyres.
Toyota USA says “this vehicle is expected to have improved aerodynamic performance, a bump in torque and unique tuning.”
It hints at a successor to the Morizo, which could inherit the GRMN prefix – short for ‘Gazoo Racing, tuned by the Meisters of the Nurburgring’ – applied to a series of other limited-edition Toyota performance cars.
Among them is the 500-examples 2022 GRMN Yaris never sold in Australia, which added carbon-fibre parts, more torque, two fewer seats, bucket seats, and other upgrades to become the most expensive Toyota Yaris ever.
Toyota Australia stopped short of confirming the GR Corolla shown in the US as a preview of a showroom model for the local market, but expressed its interest in the vehicle.
“This camouflaged GR Corolla hints at track-focused enhancements that would have enormous appeal to enthusiasts,” a Toyota Australia spokesperson told Drive.
“We would be very keen to evaluate any production car based on this development vehicle, should it become available for our market.”
Building on the already formidable GR Corolla – sold in Australia with a 221kW/400Nm 1.6-litre turbo three-cylinder engine from $67,990 plus on-roads – the ‘Development’ version winds up both looks and mechanical spec.
It is unclear how much more torque there is from the retuned engine; the GR Corolla’s Honda Civic Type R arch rival makes 420Nm.
A press release from Toyota North America said, “The Gazoo Racing team is still working to fine-tune this vehicle to make it ready for [Toyota Chairman] Akio Toyoda’s final test drive”.
Toyoda is known as a motor racing competitor and high-performance vehicle fan.
For Australia, the GR Corolla was updated for 2025 with revised styling, a weight-saving carbon-fibre roof as standard and 30Nm increased torque – previously 370Nm.
Gazoo Racing (GR) is Toyota’s performance division and the name used for its motorsport activities, which currently include Formula One with the Haas team.
The Toyota Supra will also race under the Gazoo Racing banner in Australia’s V8 Supercars category from 2026.
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