Toyota’s North America division has just dropped a new Toyota GR Corolla development vehicle, and we’re all scratching our heads trying to figure out what this test mule is for.
Despite not providing specific details, the company revealed that the heavily camouflaged GR Corolla in development boasts new fender vents, hood vents, and a rear spoiler, along with promised improvements to aerodynamic performance, torque, and tuning.
Could this be a new, track-focused GRMN Corolla? Like the GRMN Yaris, which comes with exclusive “Circuit Package” or “Rally Package” options, this new GRMN Corolla could feature similar performance tweaks.
These performance enhancements could include a reworked six-speed manual with closer gear ratios, GR-specific mechanical limited-slip differentials (front and rear), and a reinforced three-puck metal clutch and pressure plate as featured on the GRMN Yaris.
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On the other hand, this mysterious GR Corolla could also be a testbed for the next-generation Toyota Celica, a model whose return was confirmed by Toyota’s chairman, Akio Toyoda.
If this GR Corolla in disguise is actually a Celica test mule, it might be hiding a new 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, codename G20E that could end up in the next MR2 and Celica.
This engine, potentially explaining the promised torque increase, might be the same one Toyota teased earlier this year at the Tokyo Auto Salon in the mid-engined GR Yaris M Concept test mule. The company has confirmed they will be using this engine in the Super Taikyu Series, providing valuable testing opportunities for their engineers.
Of course, with so much still under cover, your guess is as good as ours now.
The current Toyota GR Corolla is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder making 300 hp and 400 Nm. Power is sent to all four wheels via an all-wheel-drive system (AWD), either through a six-speed manual gearbox, or a new eight-speed automatic gearbox, the latter which made its debut with the facelifted GR Corolla and GR Yaris.
Toyota is slated to reveal more about this intriguing GR Corolla test mule in fall 2025, so we’ll have to be patient until then.
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