- JP Performance fused an E110 Corolla body with a complete GR Yaris platform.
- The one-off project boasts 300 hp, AWD, and GR tech making it a true sleeper.
- Visual upgrades include wide fenders, aero parts, and modernized rally interior.
The E110 generation of the Toyota Corolla hatchback may have provided the bones for a championship-winning WRC rally car, but its road-going siblings never quite reached hot hatch territory.
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German tuner JP Performance GmbH has taken that same ’90s Corolla silhouette and fused it with the mechanical heart of the modern Toyota GR Yaris, creating a unique one-off that blends retro design with serious performance credentials.
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The unconventional reverse restomod project started by stripping away the bodywork of the donor Corolla, before installing a deeper bumper with a splitter, a rear wing, and wide fenders. Interestingly, the 2,461 mm (96.9 inches) wheelbase of the Corolla E110 is slightly shorter than the GR Yaris that measures 2,560 (100.8 inches) between the axles, while being significantly wider.
As proven by its rally-inspired dashboard and blocky center console, the project borrows its chassis, drivetrain, and interior from a facelifted GR Yaris. Under the hood sits the stock hot hatch’s turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine, producing 300 hp (224 kW / 305 PS) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque straight from the factory. Power is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox and Toyota’s rally-derived GR-Four AWD system.
Performance That Echoes The WRC Era
This amount of power closely matches the 2.0-liter unit found in the Toyota Corolla WRC that was driven by Carlos Sainz and Didier Auriol in the 1998 and 1999 seasons. For comparison, the most potent version of the roadgoing E110 Corolla hatchback came fitted with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder producing 109 hp (81 kW / 110 PS).
JP Performance GmbH / YouTube
Luckily, the modernized version of the hatchback rides on the latest TNGA chassis, which is significantly more rigid compared to that of the original. Furthermore, it features a GR-tuned suspension and much larger brakes that should transform its handling and driving dynamics.
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The videos uploaded on YouTube by JP Performance are in German, but using the automatic translation we understood they have more things in store for the “Yarolla”. The build will soon get a new set of alloy wheels by Compromotive, and a KW V4 Clubsport suspension that will reduce the ground clearance. Furthermore, the tuner plans to install an intercooler kit to the engine, alongside a Milltek exhaust.
Interestingly, JP Performance is trying to get a TUV certificate for the model that will be classified as a one-off. It is not clear whether they are planning to sell it after they are done with it, but we’re sure that many Toyota GR fans would like to own this crazy hot hatch that blends 1990s looks with 2020s performance.
One-Off Street Legal Status?
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Perhaps the most ambitious aspect of the build is that JP Performance aims to obtain TÜV certification, allowing the “Yarolla” to be registered and driven legally in Germany and Europe as a one-off custom build. Whether they’ll offer it for sale or keep it in their collection remains to be seen.
What’s certain is that Toyota GR fans – and hot hatch lovers alike – will drool over this combination of retro charm and modern rally-bred performance. It’s the kind of build that makes us wish Toyota had done it themselves.