Enthusiasts are buzzing about Toyota’s future plans, particularly the revival of legendary models like the Celica and a complete overhaul of the Toyota Corolla. This anticipation naturally leads to the question: will the next-generation Corolla embrace even more power in its GR Corolla variant? Toyota’s commitment to internal combustion engines is clear, and rumors suggest the resurrected Toyota Celica could boast a newly engineered 2.0-liter, turbocharged, inline-four engine, delivering an impressive 400 horsepower straight from the factory.
Simultaneously, Toyota continues to utilize its compact yet potent turbocharged three-cylinder engine across various models. However, whispers from Japan surrounding the upcoming Corolla redesign point towards new hybrid powertrains, featuring smaller combustion engines paired with larger batteries and more powerful electric motors for the standard models.
What Could This Mean for the GR Corolla?
While the Circuit Edition of the Toyota GR Corolla was a limited run, the standard GR Corolla is expected to continue, at least for the near future. There’s no indication Toyota plans to discontinue the GR Corolla even after the redesigned Corolla debuts around 2027. This opens up a couple of exciting possibilities for the future of this hot hatch:
1. Evolution of Power: The Current Engine, Enhanced
Toyota recently demonstrated their mastery of model refinement with the GR Yaris update. This rally-bred hatchback, sharing the G16E-GTS engine with the GR Corolla, received comprehensive upgrades – aerodynamics, cooling, and reliability – alongside a power boost for its 1.6-liter, turbo-three engine, now reaching 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Notably, the updated GR Yaris now matches the GR Corolla’s horsepower with even greater torque.
The revised GR Yaris also gained an optional eight-speed automatic transmission with a torque converter. This raises the possibility of a similar transmission finding its way into a future iteration of the Toyota GR Corolla. Japanese automakers are known for making subtle yet impactful improvements. Therefore, a refreshed GR Corolla could very well see its power output align with the updated GR Yaris.
2. A Bold Shift: Embracing the Turbo Inline-Four Engine
While perhaps less probable, Toyota might consider equipping the next GR Corolla with their newly developed 2.0-liter, turbo-four engine. The 400-horsepower output is likely reserved for Toyota’s flagship performance models like the upcoming Celica and potentially a future MR-2. It’s important to emphasize that this is speculative, and there are valid reasons why Toyota might not pursue this path for the GR Corolla.
For the standard Corolla models, Toyota is clearly moving towards engine downsizing. Equipping the GR Corolla with a larger engine could seem counterintuitive to this strategy. Furthermore, a Corolla hot hatch with 400 horsepower might encroach on the territory of models like the Celica, which is set to return as a coupe. Finally, the “horsepower wars” in the hot hatch segment are very real – and while 300 horsepower is currently a competitive figure, the bar is always rising.
Would a Toyota GR Corolla powered by this new 2.0-liter turbo-four engine be a welcome addition to the lineup? While it might not be the most straightforward move for Toyota, it’s equally unlikely that the GR Corolla would transition to a hybrid powertrain. The future engine choice for the GR Corolla remains an exciting question for automotive enthusiasts.
