Strangely enough, the Toyota GR Corolla facelift has only been launched in its home country of Japan, one month after we had our launch of the same car here in Malaysia.
But as the saying goes, “Slow and steady wins the race”. The Japanese domestic market (JDM) version has been slow-cooking some features to make a cooler GR Corolla facelift than us.
Both eight-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmission variants will be available at launch; the manual variant’s sticker price will start at JPY5,680,000 (approx. RM164k) and the automatic will go for JPY5,980,000 (approx. RM172k).
The JDM version sees a tiny bump in power, too. Though powered by the same 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, the JDM version has 304 hp compared to our own 300 hp – possibly due to the difference in fuel quality, though it’s not like you can really feel a difference of 4 hp. The 400 Nm of torque figure remains the same as before.
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Unlike ours, the JDM version of the Toyota GR Corolla has its top speed capped at the government-mandated 180 km/h. To circumvent this, Circuit Mode is added to remove the limiter and unleash its true 230 km/h top speed as per Malaysian spec. It also activates an anti-lag feature within its powertrain with three settings: weak, mild, or strong. Additionally, the cooling system also gets turned up to the absolute max.
In Malaysia, the Toyota GR Corolla facelift is dressed up in a set of 18-inch multispoke cast Enkei wheels. For Japan, they’ll be enjoying some 18-inch forged BBS ones.
Where the differences end is in the looks itself. For both JDM and Malaysian variants, the exterior sees the same treatment of aggressive-looking front and rear, vented bonnet, tailgate spoiler, triple exhaust, and carbon fibre roof. The same goes for the interior, too.
Intriguingly, Toyota Japan will also be offering a catalogue of retrofit facelift parts for existing owners of the pre-facelift GR Corolla. These include a set of suspension upgrades like shock absorbers, rear stabilizer bar, and rear coil springs to match the handling and feel of the facelift. However, these parts are exclusive to Japan buyers.
Right now in Malaysia, the Toyota GR Corolla facelift is priced at RM367,000 on-the-road without insurance, and it’s for the six-speed manual with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty. Pricing for the eight-speed automatic is expected to be announced soon, however, UMW Toyota is currently unable to secure any units due to high global demand.
READ: 2025 Toyota GR Corolla facelift launched in Malaysia – 6MT only for now, from RM367k
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