Toyota’s latest hot hatch, the GRMN Corolla, puts its Honda and Volkswagen rivals to shame – certainly in performance, but certainly in price. There’s a ton of track-focused equipment fitted to the car, from forged wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires to carbon fiber front fenders and an adjustable rear wing, and it all comes at a price. While the base GR Corolla will set you back $41,815 after destination, the GRMN bumps the cost up to $64,360.
In case you’re curious, that’s $13,630 more than the Golf R. The difference for the Civic Type R is even bigger at $15,770. Even if you want to cross-shop the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the 641-horsepower EV costs $2,860 less due to a recent price drop. And it should be said that this is all without shipping charges, which is normally $1,295 on the GR Corolla, but unspecified for the GRMN.
So, what’s so special about the GRMN Corolla anyway? What do you get for all that extra cash?
For starters, you don’t get rear seats. You don’t get any extra horsepower either, as it produces the same 300 hp as the standard model. However, you to do Get 7 lb-ft more torque, for a total of 302 lb-ft. Toyota says it learned “valuable lessons for internal combustion engine development” through its hydrogen-fueled Super Taikyu racer. Specifically, it increased torque between 4,000 and 4,600 rpm, which the company says is critical for corner exit acceleration. It also featured an intercooler spray system to maintain engine output at full speed.
See, instead of a big power increase, Toyota made a number of changes to the chassis and suspension, which are likely to result in a different driving experience. I can see how this would be the case with front and rear monotube shocks, which sport rebound springs for better traction on the inside wheel during sharp turns. Similarly, the tuned electric power steering and all-wheel-drive logic are said to provide better assistance in turns, the latter also optimizing rear torque distribution for straight-line speed.
Toyota has also made extensive mention of the GRMN’s aero, including the hood duct, fender duct, front side spoiler, and the aforementioned trick rear wing. Drivers can change the angle of the wing with a five-click adjustment that moves it one degree at a time. I can’t almost imagine an owner pushing the car hard enough to notice a difference, but maybe I’m wrong.
Either way, the GRMN Corolla has all the cool features to make you feel like a racer. Crazy bodywork? Yes, you got it. No back seats? Most definitely. But it’s hard to spend $64,360 on one. Luckily for Toyota, it doesn’t need to convince everyone that it’s worth the asking price – only 730 units will be sold globally, and that sounds a lot more manageable.
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