Toyota Corolla GR Lurks in Official Instagram Post

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

Like it or lump it, social media is now an outsized part of official corporate communications. It’s to the point where these channels have been seen exclusively used as platforms for official reveals of new models, depending on the demographic an automaker is trying to target. This time around, Toyota has snuck a shadowy reference to an upcoming hot hatch in the background of an otherwise innocuous post about the Corolla Hatchback.

Well, maybe not totally innocuous. The caption makes pithy references to shadows and spotlights, even though the picture’s subject is front and (mostly) center in a yard of stacked shipping containers. But check out that camouflaged car lurking in the shadowy background like a grumpy goth teenager. All signs point to it being a not-so-veiled reference to the upcoming Corolla GR.

Rumors have been abounding for some time now that Toyota is planning to apply some Gazoo Racing magic to the Corolla Hatchback, one which could be powered by the same 1.6L mill found in the Yaris GR. That three-banger makes a heady 257 horsepower, a number of ponies that would put the machine in fine league with the likes of similar rigs from VW and Honda (not to mention Hyundai), though its entirely possible engineers will find a way to crank even more horses out of that engine. A six-speed manual is all but assured.

Another outlet took pains to parse the image in Photoshop, which is good since the corporate overlords at VerticalScope only give us enough money to hammer out these missives on a broken Commodore 64. Photo wizardry shows the presence of words on the GR’s urban camo, ones which very likely say something to the effect of ‘GRFOUR’. If accurate, this could be a callout the rumor that this forthcoming hot Corolla will have power going to all four wheels. This would certainly bring the heat to Golf R and double the number of driven wheels found on the Civic Type R and Veloster N.

Toyota has plenty of room to play in this arena, given the apparent amount of power this engine is capable of enduring. It has been cranked to 375 hp in WRC form, for example, an environment in which emissions and daily driveability are not a concern. Should Toyota choose to target the Golf GTI, expect something in the range of 265 horsepower. But if the Golf R is in their crosshairs, a 315 hp monster is not out of the question. Given the likely presence of all-wheel drive, that’s the direction in which we hope the development travels.

Akio Toyoda has been vocal about his desire to shed Toyota’s stodgy image, a trap in which it was mired not too many years ago. We’ve already witnessed the new Supra and GR 86 in this market, not to mention rigs like the Yaris GR and WRC efforts in other countries. We’d be remiss not to mention the mystifying Camry TRD as well. Adding a GR Corolla Hatchback will further that goal while giving gearheads another grin-inducing option.

[Image: Toyota]

Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • Oberkanone Oberkanone on Dec 05, 2021

    250 HP AWD Hatchback or Sedan Mazda3 Turbo, a vehicle you can buy and drive. So much more fun than driving an Instagram post.

    • AK AK on Dec 07, 2021

      The Turbo 3 is a handful of things... nice, powerful, well built. Fun isn't really one of them.

  • SnarkIsMyDefault SnarkIsMyDefault on Dec 06, 2021

    Should call it the Corolla GRrrr! Some are already calling it the Grolla..

  • ToolGuy This is the kind of thing you get when you give people faster internet.
  • ToolGuy North America is already the greatest country on the planet, and I have learned to be careful about what I wish for in terms of making changes. I mean, if Greenland wants to buy JDM vehicles, isn't that for the Danes to decide?
  • ToolGuy Once again my home did not catch on fire and my fire extinguisher(s) stayed in the closet, unused. I guess I threw my money away on fire extinguishers.(And by fire extinguishers I mean nuclear missiles.)
  • Carson D The UAW has succeeded in organizing a US VW plant before. There's a reason they don't teach history in the schools any longer. People wouldn't make the same mistakes.
  • B-BodyBuick84 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport of course, a 7 seater, 2.4 turbo-diesel I4 BOF SUV with Super-Select 4WD, centre and rear locking diffs standard of course.
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