Toyota improves the GR Corolla across the board, sales due this winter

The U.S. branch of Toyota has revealed the updated GR Corolla hot hatch scheduled for launch in winter with no pricing info just yet.

The car retains its 1.6-liter turbo three-cylinder rated at 304 PS (300 hp / 224 kW), but gains 30 Nm (22 lb-ft) of torque for a new total of 400 Nm (295 lb-ft). Both the manual and the eight-speed automatic transmissions are still available, and the latter gets significantly smarter for the new model year. Among other things, it now takes all your recent accelerator and brake inputs into account when deciding when and how to shift. Toyota claims it had tested the new transmission logic on a number of racetracks to ensure a sporty driving feel, and argues that it doesn’t even feel too different from the six-speed manual.

Big improvements have been made to the suspension, which now reportedly sags less at the rear end while accelerating and has a firmer grip on the road in sharp turns. To achieve this, the engineers had to replace the springs and shock absorbers with different ones, as well as move the control arm mounting points to better positions.

Even in the most basic spec, the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla has all-wheel drive with three presets to select from. Limited slip differentials for both axles are no longer paid options – they are already included in the spec, just like launch control. The front bumper has been reshaped to reduce fender turbulence and free up space for new cooling system units, resulting in better cooling of the automatic transmission. Last but not least, a new, darker interior trim has been added to the list.