Toyota Wants to 'Increase Power' in the GR Corolla

With success on the track, Toyota could bring some of that power to the road.

Toyota GR Corolla Development Vehicle

Photo by: Toyota

Jeff Perez

By: Jeff Perez

Jun 3, 2025 at 2:00pm ET

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The Toyota GR Corolla is even better for 2025, with more torque and a new eight-speed Direct Automatic transmission. But those may not be the only changes we see to the feisty five-door over the next few years.

In an interview with Chief Engineer Naoyuki Sakamoto, he revealed to Motor1 that more track goodness could make its way to the GR Corolla and GR Yaris models relatively soon—that includes additional power.

"Hopefully, we can come to a measure to increase power, and eventually, with that planning, it can come to the production Corolla and GR Yaris," Sakamoto tells us.

Toyota GR Corolla Development Vehicle

Photo by: Toyota

That said, that extra power won't come easily. Sakamoto notes that the company attempted to increase the output of its TCR race car during a test of the Corolla's powertrain at Sonoma, but it wasn't successful, at least, not initially.

"We tried to increase engine power with the TCR Corolla [race car], then we broke [it]," Sakamoto says. "We know the limit, we know how to increase the engine power. But still we are studying. We are always trying to push the limit…"

Toyota hasn’t confirmed a production GRMN Corolla (or a new GRMN Yaris, for that fact), but it’s highly rumored. That model will reportedly use the same turbocharged 1.6-liter engine as the current GR Corolla, but with “unique tuning” to produce even more torque and horsepower

Toyota GR Corolla Development Vehicle

Photo by: Toyota

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That extra horsepower will be paired with track-specific upgrades like aerodynamic bodywork, a new suspension setup, better wheels, and stickier tires. The supposed GRMN prototype (pictured here) has 18-inch BBS forged wheels shod in 245/40 ZR18 tires—noticeably wider than the Circuit Edition’s 235/40 ZR18 rubber. It also wears Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires instead of the standard Pilot Sport 4.

The Toyota GRMN Corolla should, hopefully, show up before the end of the year, and the GRMN Yaris will likely precede it in Europe. Hopefully, we’ll have details closer to a debut date.

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