Toyota GR Corolla News

The Toyota GR Corolla is bringing some efficiency and structural updates that are set to sharpen up the Japanese hot hatch.The Kia EV4 sedan will be the first EV4 body style to arrive, with its production in South Korea meaning it's easier to get here first.Closely related to the EV3, the EV4 is longer, wider and taller than a Tesla Model 3.Built in Slovakia and set to arrive later, the Kia EV4 hatch will mirror the sedan in many ways, aside from being shorter.As with the sedan, a a 58kWh Standard Range or 81kWh Long Range pack are confirmed internationally.Want to know what other new models are due in 2026? Check out our rolling coverage by clicking on the links below. Best EVs Australia 2026Best Ute Australia 2026Best 4x4 Australia 2026Best New Cars 2026 AustraliaBest Family Cars Australia 2026Best Hybrid Cars Australia 2026Best SUVs Australia 2026

Toyota’s local arm has confirmed it is bringing to Australia the updated GR Corolla announced just weeks ago for Japan.

Toyota has revealed an update for the GR Corolla in its home nation, bringing a sharper-driving and better-sounding car, the brand said.On top of that, Toyota said it has addressed “the supply system for the Japanese-market model” so that the updated 2026 Toyota GR Corolla will be more readily available than previous model years.The “partially improved” GR Corolla has been bestowed with more structural adhesive, an increase of 13.9 metres of application compared to the 18.8 before, totalling 32.7 metres of adhesive in the hot hatch.Toyota said this will “enhance body rigidity while minimising weight increase” to account for more intense track driving. Toyota said it has found overseas circuits generate “more intense vertical and lateral G-forces than circuits in Japan”.To stabilise the G16E-GTS engine’s temperature and outputs, a “high-engine-speed-activated cool air duct” has been added as part of the secondary intake, which draws in air “directly from the front grille” from outside where the air is cooler than in the engine bay.The cooler air will help keep the turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine more regularly able to achieve its maximum 221kW and 400Nm.Finally, Toyota said it’s improved the JBL sound system to deliver what it calls an “emotional motorsports-evoking sound experience even during city driving”.A subwoofer now brings total speakers from eight up to nine, meaning GR Corollas with the JBL sound system come with Active Sound Control, which uses synthesised “sporty sounds” that match the car’s acceleration and engine speed. It also mimics the anti-lag exhaust ‘burble’.As of now, the update is only confirmed for Japan, though as with many changes to the brand’s GR models, it’s likely to hit other markets next time an update is due. Toyota Australia launched an update for the GR Corolla and GR Yaris earlier in 2025.Toyota is also expected to reveal a hotter version of the Corolla to sit above it, potentially as a more limited-edition version under its GRMN badge - a model which had been leaked earlier this week from a dealer event in North America.

The recent news that Toyota Australia is discontinuing the GR Supra was sad for lovers of performance cars. But if you think that means Toyota is reverting back to its boring days of making ‘whitegoods on wheels’ then you are deeply mistaken.In fact, this is arguably the start of a golden age for not only Toyota as a brand, but the entire performance car market. Not only will the GR Supra be replaced by an all-new generation model, it is expected to be joined by a new Celica and possibly a revived MR2, if the rumours are true.And when I say ‘rumours’ I really mean teasers that Toyota itself has deliberately sent out into the world. In late 2024 it released an episode of its animated YouTube series, Grip, which featured a list consisting of: ‘Supra Mk6’, ‘Celica Mk8’, ‘MR2 Mk4’, ‘GR86 Mk3’ and ‘GR GT3’. Given Grip is an animated show and thought must be put into every element of the frame, those names didn’t appear by accident, but rather by design.Bringing back all of the brand’s iconic performance cars, which would join the existing GR Yaris and GR Corolla hot hatches in an expansive line-up of hero models would be something truly remarkable for petrolheads around the world.On top of this, Lexus just showed off a new sports car concept at the Monterey Car Week. This new rear-wheel drive coupe is expected to replace both the RC and LC coupes, form the basis of a new GT3 racing car and could even be V8 powered. If that all turns out to be true, it will be yet another major boost for the wider Toyota group’s coolness factor.It’s all part of a wider, all-encompassing strategy that Toyota began over a decade ago, with the launch of the revived 86 in 2012. This was a massive statement vehicle from the company, offering a rear-wheel drive coupe for under $30k, and a good one too, made a major impact on the perception of Toyota as a brand.The next most important model after the 86 to the brand’s current state of cool is the 2015 Toyota Prius. That was the first model to utilise the so-called Toyota New Generation Architecture or TNGA as it is more commonly known. Unlike the famous Volkswagen ‘MQB’ architecture, which was a modular platform able to be scaled up and down for a multitude of models, TNGA was broader than that. Yes, it was a scalable platform, but it spawned multiple platforms (TNGA-B, TNGA-F, etc) and it also represented a philosophical shift for the company.Under the leadership of Akio Toyoda, grandson of the company’s founder, this automotive behemoth made a conscious decision it was not going to be boring anymore. It decided that, even though it was incredibly successful, it should make a major change and not just make dependable, good value cars, but rather dependable, good value cars that are enjoyable to drive.This spurred the expansion of Gazoo Racing from Toyoda’s personal motorsport team to a global performance sub-brand that now offers multiple models with more clearly on the way. If all the speculation is right and Toyota rolls out a new Celica and MR2, alongside the new Supra, it will position the Japanese giant as arguably the most performance car heavy brand in the world.Which would be a remarkable turn around for a car maker that was once the subject of mockery from driving enthusiasts. Instead your future Toyota showroom has the potential to become a one-stop shop for car lovers looking for performance in any size and shape.

Toyota has shown off a new concept sports car at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon, but it’s the vehicle's powertrain that could signal a new era for the brand.

Toyota has given its standout performance cars a much needed update.

A mysterious camouflaged Toyota GR Corolla has been spied testing at Germany’s Nurburgring Nordschleife. Initially thought to be a mid-like facelift (like the GR Yaris just received), more images shared by CarScoops reveal this could be an even more hardcore version of the rally-bred hot hatch. The word on the street is that it is a GRMN version, which stands for ‘Gazoo Racing Meister of the Nurburgring’.So far, the GRMN name has only been rolled out once on a previous-gen Yaris but Toyota is understood to be developing more focused versions of some of its GR models. A GRMN Supra with swan-neck wing and bigger wheels was spied testing in March this year. Toyota is yet to reveal if this is a ‘GRMN’ GR Corolla but the thinly-disguised modifications hint at extra focus. At the front there are few styling changes evident — at least not the sort you’d expect from a facelift. Like Australian cars, it has vents on top of the bonnet though it being camouflaged may nod to a higher bonnet bulge or perhaps carbon fibre construction. The front guards look a little different — possibly wider to hide thicker rubber — and feature more cooling openings. There are vents above the front wheels and an additional outlet for hot air ahead of the wheel arch. Of course, the two most obvious changes are the black, or perhaps carbon fibre, roof (like the GR Yaris) along with a generous rear wing, likely to reduce lift. It appears to use the same multi-spoke alloy wheels as the high performance GR Corolla Morizo model with red calipers behind. Finally, a closer peak inside reveals what appears to be a half roll cage in the back of the GR Corolla. It is possible this is a safety precaution for the test driver, but the neat integration suggests a factory item. Toyota developing an even more track-focused version of the GR Corolla is unlikely to be a huge surprise to hot hatch fans. It is basically customary, with Renault releasing similar special editions of its now-defunct Megane and Clio hot hatches over the years. While more power is always nice, the GR Corolla’s 1.6-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder is already a pretty high output piece of kit, developing an impressive 221kW and 400Nm in facelift guise. Perhaps a minor 10-20kW increase is on the cards but we’d expect Toyota to focus on shedding weight and adding grip for a GRMN version. The GR Corolla updates were confirmed for Australia last month, with both six-speed manual and new eight-speed auto versions due to arrive before the year is out. 

Toyota has broadened the appeal of its rally-bred GR Corolla hot hatch with a suite of changes — including a new transmission.

Toyota’s about to broaden the appeal of one of its most convincing offerings when it comes to sports cars, according to leaked documents and hints from GR’s own boss, as the brand is set to introduce an automatic transmission to its GR Corolla.

Toyota's GR Corolla could be next on the list to get an automatic transmission