English | 简体中文 | 繁體中文 | 한국어 | 日本語
Friday, 1 April 2022, 10:36 JST
Share:
    

Source: Toyota Motor Corporation
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Premieres GR Corolla

Toyota City, Japan, Apr 1, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) held the world premiere of the all-new GR Corolla in Long Beach, California, USA, on March 31 (local time), on the eve of the opening round of the Formula Drift(1) season. The GR Corolla is scheduled for launch in Japan in the second half of 2022.

The all-new GR Corolla (North America specifications, prototype)

The unveiling of the GR Corolla can be seen at the following: https://vimeo.com/event/1928953

Through such achievements as the TE25 Corolla earning Toyota Motor Corporation's (Toyota's) first WRC victory(2) in 1973, followed by the Corolla Levin's win in the 1,000 Lakes Rally(3) in 1975, the Corolla laid the foundation for TGR's concept of "making ever-better motorsports-bred cars" and is a model loved by many for its driving performance. The GR Corolla sprang to life based on the strong desire of Toyota President Akio Toyoda, a.k.a. Morizo, to "bring back a Corolla that captivates our customers".

In response to that desire, the development of the GR Corolla carried forth the torch of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars, which focuses on honing cars to win races and making them commercially available. In concrete terms, the vehicle was comprehensively reforged in the extreme environment of racing by participating in the Super Taikyu Series using a hydrogen engine-equipped Corolla(4) to also refine a hydrogen engine, which comprises new technologies, with Toyota Master Driver Morizo, himself, taking stints behind the wheel. Furthermore, to ensure that the vehicle could be driven with confidence and enjoyment in a variety of situations, prototypes were put through their paces not only on racing circuits but also on highly demanding dirt roads and snow-covered roads. Driving was done beyond the breaking point for comprehensive honing by drivers who each have unique perspectives, including Morizo, racing driver Hiroaki Ishiura, All Japan Rally Championship winner Norihiko Katsuta, and in-house evaluators.

The GR Corolla boasts a strengthened version of the 1.6-liter in-line three-cylinder intercooler turbo engine found in the GR Yaris, resulting in a maximum output of 224 kW (304 PS). Optimizing the GR-FOUR 4WD system, which is also featured on the GR Yaris, to match the specifications of the GR Corolla was among various initiatives undertaken to create a car that can be safely and securely controlled even when pushing it to its limits.

While adopting the basic body framework of the Toyota Corolla Sport to enable it to inherit the high-speed stability of a long wheelbase, the GR Corolla employs a 60 mm wider track up front and an 85 mm wider track in the rear to command a high level of cornering performance. The result: sporty driving at will with peace of mind. And to complete the package, the GR Corolla retains a five-door, five-passenger layout for both exceptional usability in daily life and driving pleasure.

Since its birth in 1966, the Corolla has evolved throughout its generations into a variety of sedans, wagons, hatchbacks, and SUVs to meet the changing lifestyles of Toyota customers over time. With the GR Corolla joining the lineup as a sports car packed tight with driving performance and functionality ready to be embraced by many customers, the Corolla series will keep on continuing to evolve.

Main features of the GR Corolla

A motorsports-bred design refined into functional beauty

Exterior

While the basic body framework of the Corolla Sport has been adopted, 20 mm wider front fenders and 30 mm wider rear fenders produce a broader stance that foreshadows a spirited driving experience.

The triple exhausts of a muffler created to further increase the output of the 1.6-liter in-line three-cylinder intercooler turbo engine emphasize the unique, powerful, and sporty rear.

Honing the vehicle's cooling and aerodynamic performance on all kinds of roads, including racing circuits, dirt roads, and snow-covered roads, resulted in the inclusion of a front-bumper air intake and front-fender and hood-bulge air outlets.

Interior

A short-stroke shift lever positioned for natural operation by simply lowering the arm from the steering wheel enables quick gear changes.

A hand-operated parking brake has been used to allow better vehicle control even when pushing the car to its limits, such as when drifting.

The Full TFT Meter, which was developed exclusively for GR models, has been newly adopted. Inspired by race cars and reflecting insight from professional drivers, the new display improves visibility during sporty driving.

An evolved version of the GR Yaris 1.6-liter in-line three-cylinder intercooler turbo engine

Engine exhaust efficiency was improved to achieve even higher output from the same compact, lightweight, high-power unit that propels the GR Yaris. A valve-equipped triple-exhaust muffler reduces both exhaust pressure and noise. In sum, the engine provides overwhelming acceleration and a more-pleasant extension of RPMs.

A wide track and long wheelbase for excellent driving stability and control

The basic body framework of the Toyota Corolla Sport has been adopted, and, while retaining the excellent driving stability provided by a long wheelbase, high-speed cornering performance has been improved by widening the track by 60 mm up front and by 85 mm in the rear. Stability and control during sporty driving have been greatly enhanced, allowing confidence and enjoyment while driving as one pleases, even when pushing the car to its limits.

A selectable-mode GR-FOUR 4WD system and a high-rigidity body

The featured GR-FOUR 4WD system uses an electronic multi-plate clutch to provide variable front and rear driving force, like in the GR Yaris. This time, however, the system's "4WD" mode, which controls driving force distribution, and its "Drive" mode, which controls accelerator response, steering, and others, have been separated to enable selection according to driver preference and the driving environment. Furthermore, the use of pillow-ball bushings and the optimization of the springs, shock absorbers, and wheel alignment combine to fully transmit the GR-FOUR's optimal distribution of driving force to the road surface. This has resulted in overwhelming cornering performance.

Body rigidity has been strengthened to achieve driving performance that agilely responds to driver operation. In addition to the high-rigidity basic framework made possible through production at the GR Factory at Toyota's Motomachi Plant, braces have been added between the rear wheel wells, to the under-floor tunnel, and under the floor in front of the fuel tank to improve handling stability. Also, like in the case of the GR Yaris, the roof panel is made of CFRP(5) molded by the SMC(6) process, which offers a high degree of freedom of shape and contributes not only to increased rigidity but also to weight reduction.

Opposed caliper disk brakes provide stable braking force and controllability, enabling confident and enjoyable driving, even on racing circuits.

Advanced safety and security even for a sports car

The latest active safety package, Toyota Safety Sense, comes standard, allowing the combination of safety and security in daily driving and the driving pleasure of a sports car.

(1) A production-car-based drift series held in various locations around the United States. In the 2022 series, TGR will compete with four cars in total: the GR Corolla (one unit), GR86 (two units), and GR Supra (one unit).
(2) The Press On Regardless rally held in the United States
(3) The current Rally Finland
(4) Toward realizing motorsports that are carbon-neutral and sustainable, the vehicle is aimed at honing, through motorsports, hydrogen engine technologies, which represent a new power source option. Participation using a hydrogen engine-equipped Corolla in the Super Taikyu Series started in 2021 with Round 3 under the banner of ROOKIE Racing.
(5) Carbon fiber reinforced plastic
(6) Sheet molding compound
(7) Torsen is a registered trademark of JTEKT Corporation.

For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/.

Topic: Press release summary
Source: Toyota Motor Corporation

Sectors: Automotive
https://www.acnnewswire.com
From the Asia Corporate News Network


Copyright © 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.

 
Toyota Motor Corporation Links

http://www.toyota-global.com

https://plus.google.com/+toyotaglobal

https://www.facebook.com/ToyotaMotorCorporation/

https://twitter.com/TOYOTA_PR/

https://www.youtube.com/user/toyotajpchannel/

https://linkedin.com/company/toyota

Toyota Motor Corporation Related News
Friday, 20 December 2024, 15:38 JST
Toyota Launches Alphard and Vellfire PHEV Models in Japan
2024年12月18日 13時50分 JST
トヨタ、燃料電池および水電解装置の生産計画が経済産業省の「GXサプライチェーン構築支援事業」に認定
Wednesday, 18 December 2024, 13:51 JST
Toyota's Fuel Cell and Water Electrolysis System Production Plan Certified as a METI Support Program for Building GX Supply Chains
Friday, 29 November 2024, 11:22 JST
TGR Announces Partially Upgraded Supra (3.0-liter) and Special-edition Supra "A90 Final Edition"
2024年11月28日 15時00分 JST
トヨタ、2024年10月 販売・生産・輸出実績
More news >>
Copyright © 2024 ACN Newswire - Asia Corporate News Network
Home | About us | Services | Partners | Events | Login | Contact us | Cookies Policy | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Terms of Use | RSS
US: +1 214 890 4418 | China: +86 181 2376 3721 | Hong Kong: +852 8192 4922 | Singapore: +65 6549 7068 | Tokyo: +81 3 6859 8575