TOYOTA GR COROLLA HAS LEVELLED UP - MORE RIGIDITY, COOLER INTAKE, AND BURBLES ON DEMAND FOR THE JDM.
Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) just dropped a fresh update for the GR Corolla in its home market of Japan, and while the rest of us are left crossing fingers and toes, the upgrades are pure driver’s candy. This isn’t a mere facelift - it’s an evolution born directly from motorsport. Drawing lessons from the brutal Super Taikyu endurance series, the GR Corolla now packs more structural rigidity, improved cooling, and even more character inside the cabin. The reinforced body is one of the biggest changes. By extending the use of structural adhesive to 32.7 meters of the chassis (that’s nearly 14 meters more than before), Toyota has boosted rigidity in the front, floor, and rear wheel well areas. The result? A car that feels more locked in, more communicative, and more ready for circuits that dish out savage vertical and lateral g-forces - think Nürburgring rather than a local touge.
The beating heart, the 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo G16E-GTS, now breathes cooler thanks to a clever secondary intake duct. Activated at high revs, the new cool air duct channels air straight from the front grille to reduce intake temperatures. That means more stable power delivery even when you’re flat-out for extended sessions. It’s a small change with a massive effect on consistency - exactly the kind of detail motorsport demands.
Inside, Toyota hasn’t just focused on driving performance. The optional JBL Premium Sound System gets a ninth speaker in the form of a subwoofer tucked into the boot. But the headline is the Active Sound Control system. Not only does it pipe in enhanced engine tones to match throttle and gear inputs, but it also adds the motorsport soundtrack we all secretly love: burbles and pops. The system simulates the anti-lag-style crackles you’d expect in a race car, all without risking your exhaust valves. Three sound patterns, multiple volume levels, and the option to switch it off completely give drivers full control of the aural theatre.
Since its debut in 2022, getting your hands on a GR Corolla in Japan has been more like winning the lottery than placing an order. That’s changing - Toyota has revised its supply system so more enthusiasts can actually buy one. And for those who already own one, TGR isn’t leaving them behind. A new software-inclusive upgrade program, rolling out in spring 2026, will add a healthy 30 Nm to peak torque, taking it from 370 Nm to 400 Nm, and revise the GR-FOUR all-wheel drive system. “REAR” mode gets replaced by a new 50:50 “GRAVEL” setup, and “TRACK” mode evolves into a variable split ranging from 60:40 to 30:70, giving more adaptability for different conditions. Essentially, it’s like Toyota reaching into your garage and upgrading your car for free track pace.
For Akio Toyoda - Master Driver “Morizo” himself - motorsport isn’t just about trophies, it’s about making road cars better. The GR Corolla exists because of that philosophy, and this latest update proves Toyota’s commitment to evolving it continuously. More rigidity, more cooling, more involvement - it’s the same formula that’s made the GR family such a hit worldwide. The kicker? For now, it’s still JDM-only. Here’s hoping Toyota loosens the leash and lets more of the world experience the evolved GR Corolla. Until then, the rest of us will just be watching Japan with envy.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the crew at Kondor Cars that takes us through the updates to the Toyota GR Corolla - a JDM-only thing, sadly: Toyota GR Corolla updated Details of the improvements | KondorCars
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