$80k Morizo Edition GR Corolla arrives

BY PETER BARNWELL | 22nd Jun 2023

AS EXPECTED, Toyota Australia has introduced the track-focused, two seat GR Corolla Morizo Edition (ME) but only 25 will be available all of which are likely sold – possibly to speculators.

It is priced from $77,800 plus on-road costs, a whopping $15,500 over the “lesser” GR Corolla GTS.

Matte paint adds a further $2500 to the ME price bringing the hot hatch up over the $80k mark up against VW’s AWD Golf R 20th from $74,990 and the front-wheel drive Honda Civic Type R from $72,600, both +ORC.

Include some two-door sports cars in the money mix and you are looking at the Nissan Z Proto from $80,700 +ORC and Toyota’s own, way more powerful, GR Supra from $87,000 +ORC. Even BMW’s 1-Series M135i xDrive hatch with more power and torque is in there from $76,600 +ORC.

Confusing matters a tad is a Circuit Edition GR Corolla just launched in the US in a special Flame Blue colour that’s based on the ME with additional engineering tweaks, aero enhancements including flat underbody panels, better tyres, ducting for extra brake and engine cooling and new features inside.

Toyota USA is further ahead of the game announcing at the same time the Trueno GR86 with sports dampers and Brembo brakes and a 45^th Anniversary GR Supra with special features.

Down Under, the ME follows the limited edition GR Corolla that lobbed back in February that has been snapped up by eager performance car buyers. It provides a more focused track ready calibration and as mentioned, loses the back seat and other kit for less weight.

So, what do you get for the extra dosh?

Enhancements over the GR Corolla GTS start with the 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that has been retuned (more boost) to produce an extra 30Nm of torque, to a maximum of 400Nm from 3250-4600rpm but peak power remains the same with 221kW available at 6500rpm.

To modulate the delivery of all those Newtons, Gazoo engineers recalibrated the close-ratio six-speed “intelligent” manual transmission with altered gear ratios for the first and third gear, allowing for the engine power band to be used more efficiently. The final gear ratio has also been revised up.

Gearbox durability is augmented through the use of high strength material with the first, third, fourth, fifth and final drive gears gaining shock treatment to enhance shock torque strength. The synchroniser spring has also been strengthened to improve shifting performance during sports driving.

Monotube shock absorbers have been fitted to the ME to stiffen roll rigidity and responsiveness of the MacPherson strut front and double-wishbone rear suspension. Sticky 245/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres wrap 10-spoke, 18-inch BBS forged alloy wheels. The ME adds further structural reinforcements to provide the stiffest possible underpinnings.

Compared to the GTS, an extra 3334mm of structural adhesive has been applied throughout the ME’s body. Two new braces in the cabin provide structural reinforcement with a suspension tower brace between the rear wheels joined by a new floor brace in place of the rear seats. The ME cumulatively sheds 30kg compared with the GTS.

Removing the rear seats alone reduces its weight by more than 10kg with further weight savings through the deletion of various damping and silencing materials and the rear wiper and motor. The BBS wheels also help cut weight.

Further weigh savings are made by fitting a plastic reinforced carbon fibre roof yielding a 2.5kg saving also lowering the vehicle's centre of gravity. More weight is removed by deleting the steering wheel heater, parking sensors and wireless charger, along with downgrading the climate control to single-zone.

A number of race-inspired interior touches are aimed at facilitating high-speed driving and cornering. The seats have been changed for race bucket seats upholstered in a perforated suede and feature extra side and seat-base bolstering to maximise occupant grip and stability during performance driving.

Similarly, the wheel has a suede cover for better grip with other touch points like the gear knob and hand brake lever similarly grip optimised and colour highlighted.

The Morizo Edition shares the GR GTS’s 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto and is paired with a colour head-up display and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The JBL audio system drops from an eight-speaker system to two and native satnav removed to save weight, but Toyota Connected Services is offered as standard, providing enhanced safety and convenience features thanks to an inbuilt Data Communication Module built into the vehicle.

A comprehensive suite of Toyota Safety Sense active safety technologies are included on the Morizo Edition, carrying over all the features of the GTS with the exception of parking sensors.

Colour availability includes the core Frosted White pearl and Tarmac Black metallic along with a new Matte Steel hue. A number of Gazoo Racing and GR-Four badges adorn the Morizo Edition which has the same five-year / unlimited-kilometre warranty and capped-price servicing provisions as the garden variety Corolla.

Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, said the Morizo Edition provided even more appeal for GR Corolla fans wanting to push the car to its limits.

“The GR Corolla Morizo Edition is the result of our engineers’ desire to create a vehicle that pushes the boundaries of hot hatch performance,” said Mr Hanley.

“Every upgrade on the Morizo Edition has been introduced in order to enhance dynamism, reduce lap times and raise the pulse of driving enthusiasts, as is the case for all Toyota Gazoo Racing products.

“And with just 25 units allocated to the Australian market, interest in Toyota's latest performance car offering is sure to be sky-high.”

2023 GR Corolla pricing*: