Toyota GR Corolla: Boosted Production

The Toyota Corolla is the best-selling car of all time worldwide. So, it’s no surprise that the sporty GR version experienced a surge in popularity as soon as it hit the market. Unfortunately, production has been relatively limited, as the Motomachi plant in Japan is the only facility currently building the hot hatch.

To meet the high demand, the Japanese automaker has decided to assign a second factory to the production of the GR Corolla. It will now also be assembled on the production line at the Burnaston plant in the United Kingdom.

The Hot Hatch of the Moment

While the segment was nearly on the verge of extinction, sporty compact cars are now more popular than ever, and Toyota has joined the fray with the GR Corolla. To do so, the brand’s engineers reworked the car from the ground up, including the steering, suspension, and braking systems.

Of course, the GR Corolla’s standout feature remains its mighty powertrain—a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine. On paper, that might not sound very impressive, but Toyota’s engineers managed to squeeze 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque from it, which is nothing short of remarkable. Moreover, the three-cylinder setup gives the engine a uniquely distinctive sound, giving the Japanese hot hatch a character its mostly four-cylinder rivals lack.

The GR Corolla is also one of the only cars in its class that offers both a 6-speed manual transmission and an 8-speed automatic. On top of that, it comes standard with all-wheel drive, making it a genuinely compelling performance car that’s also usable year-round.

Sales Increase Ahead

We don’t yet know the full impact of the added production line in the UK. However, according to Toyota, the new plant is expected to produce at least 10,000 additional GR Corolla units annually, which should help improve availability for a model that rarely stays long on dealer lots. All in all, it’s excellent news for buyers who have been waiting far too long to finally get their hands on the car of their dreams.

Jean-Sébastien Poudrier