Toyota Corolla GRMN revealed
Toyota’s Gazoo Racing (GR) division has just pulled the wraps off what is officially the most hardcore, track-focused version of its hot hatch: the GRMN Corolla. Developed under the watchful eye of Toyota Master Driver Akio Toyoda (aka Morizo), this limited-edition has been thoroughly re-engineered on Germany’s gruelling Nürburgring Nordschleife and in Japan's Super Taikyu racing series.
The bad news for local enthusiasts? The initial production run is strictly limited, targeting Japan, North America, and Australia, with order books opening later this year for a 2027 rollout. However, given South Africa’s appetite for the GR brand, local fans will undoubtedly be hoping for a future allocation.
What makes it a "GRMN"?
While the standard GR Corolla is already a proper performance car, the GRMN badge (Gazoo Racing Masters of Nürburgring) elevates it to a bona fide track special.
More grunt
The 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine retains its 224 kW output, but torque has been increased by 15 Nm to 415 Nm. The engineering team has reshaped the torque curve, packing more muscle into the mid-range (3 600 - 4 800 r/min) to help the car exit corners better. To handle continuous full-throttle track abuse, an automated intercooler spray system has been added.
Weight management
GR has stripped out the rear seats entirely, turning the GRMN into a dedicated two-seater. Combined with extensive use of carbon fibre for the engine hood, front fenders, and rear wing, the car drops 30 kg, tipping the scales at 1 450 kg.
Chassis and aero
Adjustable aero: The carbon-fibre rear wing features a 5-step manual adjustment mechanism, allowing drivers to fine-tune downforce in 1-degree increments.
Upgraded suspension: Gone are the standard twin-tube dampers, replaced by motorsport-grade, inverted front and upright rear monotube shock absorbers.
Fatter rubber: The GRMN features wider, ultra-sticky 245/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 track tyres mounted on forged matte-bronze wheels.
Sharper control: The close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission, Electric Power Steering (EPS), and the GR-FOUR AWD system have all received exclusive track-calibrated software updates.
Stripped-out cockpit
Inside, the focus is entirely on high-G track driving. The driver is held in place by a custom-designed, lightweight Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) full-bucket seat, optimised for helmet-wearing drivers. The dashboard and front pillars are covered in glare-reducing flocked material. At the same time, the passenger side features bespoke carbon-fibre ornamentation complete with Morizo’s signature and an exclusive production serial number plate.
GRMN Corolla vs Standard GR Corolla (RZ)
| Specification | GRMN Corolla (Prototype) | GR Corolla RZ (2026 MY) |
| Seating Capacity | 2 | 5 |
| Weight | 1 450kg | 1 480 kg(Manual) / 1 500 kg(Auto) |
| Engine | 1.6L 3-cyl turbo | 1.6L 3-cyl turbo |
| Power | 224 kW | 224 kW |
| Torque | 415 Nm | 400 Nm |
| Transmission | Close-ratio 6-speed iMT | 6-speed iMT / 8-speed GR-DAT Auto |
| Tyres | 245/40ZR18 Michelin Cup 2 | 235/40R18 Yokohama Advan Apex |
One More Thing: The MORIZO RR Concept
For those who want the extreme performance of the GRMN but still need to ferry passengers, Toyota also previewed the GR Corolla MORIZO RR. Currently under development, this concept retains a 5-seat layout but introduces the 8-speed GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission (GR-DAT). Launch dates for the automatic RR model are yet to be confirmed.
