Rejoice, the one-car garage crowd, as the ultimate every-day sports car is now here. UMW Toyota Motor has now introduced the automatic transmission (AT) variant of the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla here in Malaysia, making performance driving even more accessible. It’ll join the GR lineup with a sticker price of RM378,950, making it a flat RM10k dearer than the existing manual version.
Toyota says the eight-speed GR Direct Automatic Transmission (GR-DAT) differs from that of the GR Supra and GR86, in which the shifting logic depends on the driver’s accelerator and brake inputs, rather than sensing vehicle behaviour such as G-forces. As a result, the transmission is able to better anticipate the optimal shifting points, translating to “gear selection that reflects the driver’s intentions and, thus, leads to shifting that is similar to that of professional drivers.”
Paired to the same 16E-GTS 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine as before, with 300 hp and 400 Nm on tap, the Toyota GR Corolla AT is able to complete the century sprint in a spritely 5.3 seconds, onwards to a top speed of 230 km/h – both of which are identical to the manual-equipped GR Corolla on-paper, although the typical gentlemen drivers will most definitely be much quicker on track with the AT.
It also retains the same dual Torsen limited-slip differential (LSD) and GR-Four all-wheel drive (AWD) system as the automatic, with three distinct modes of splitting power between the front and rear axles – 60:40 front-rear in Sport, 50:50 in Gravel, and variable of up to 30:70 in Track – the latter two updated in the latest global product refresh, and has also been applied to the manual variant.
Toyota says that the driving modes have also been recalibrated specifically for the AT, and it’ll also get a launch control system for maximum acceleration from a standstill.
Keeping the transmission cooled is a new air-cooled automatic transmission fluid (ATF) cooler, working in concert with a water-cooled ATF fluid temperature regulator that also helps with engine warm-up. The AT cars also come with an additional sub-radiator to help with engine cooling, with the accompanying openings and ducts on the front bumper to channel air through.
Otherwise, the rest of the car is essentially unchanged from the manual car that was launched in Malaysia last year, including the revised suspension setup, as well as a retuned ABS system that Toyota says helped improve stability under braking.
Inside, the central infotainment display has gained an inch to 10 inches in diameter, and now supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The wing mirrors have also now gained a new blind-spot monitor indicator for easier day-to-day driving, befitting the AT variant’s more layman persona.
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