What can the aftermarket do to get the latest hot hatch?

The Toyota GR Corolla 2023 (GRC) has been officially revealed, and the automotive media is buzzing with excitement. Like, the Mazda 12A straight-tube rotary levels. The debut of this sleek hatch got me thinking: What would the aftermarket tuning look like?

Although it’s some time before driving impressions hit the press, all the signs are that the hot Rolla is a lot of fun: an all-wheel drive that can send up to 70% of the power to the rear (therefore, drift-able), 300 hp A 1.6-liter inline-3 (as Kristen Lee points out, more horsepower per liter than a Bugatti dang), 6-speed manual, and a relatively low curb weight of 3,249 pounds, all wrapped up in a sporty package with a look to die for.

But there’s another sign that the GRC will be a lot of fun to drive: It’s built alongside the GR Yaris (GRY) at Toyota’s GR plant in Motomachi, Japan, and shares the same engine and drivetrain (albeit with more power). Our companions in the automotive media around the world have said very good things about the GRY fun factor, including our Lewin Day.

All this made me curious. If the two cars share the same engine and drivetrain, and a lot of the specs seem to match their press material, what can we hedge with some confidence about CRC’s aftermarket capabilities? In particular, what kind of aftermarket parts will make the brakes stronger and handling sharper? With a little detective work and a few photos I took at the GRC demarcation event, there are some solid possibilities here.

stopping force

GRY reviewers and owners report that their stock brakes are very good from the factory. “The brakes, too, killed a giant as expected in their stopping power.” James Denison referred to any car? Australia. “Four pots in the front and two in the back, the first disc size is—believe it or not—is bigger than the Toyota Supra.”

After a quick scan of the forums, the owners shared positive impressions, is very. They seem to hold up well in fun driving scenarios, but for serious work, aftermarket rigs seem recommended, as they will handle heat better, have better modulation and feel.

Does this mean that the GRC will have similar qualities, in addition to using the aftermarket platforms already available for GRY? By comparing the media assets and the photos I took last night, things are starting to get better. It’s a bit hard to see, but the Corolla appears to share the same four-piston calipers and two-piece rotors up front, and two-piston calipers with ventilated one-piece rotors for the rear. Also, my colleague Chris Rosales pointed out that according to Toyota employees, the GR Corolla has 14-inch rotors in the front and 11-inch units in the rear, which tracks with the GRY specs in the graphic above. When factoring in the GRY’s lighter curb weight of 2,821 pounds, it’s 428 pounds less than the currently known GRC curb weight of 3,281 pounds, so it’s unclear if there’s a difference in the factory cushion assembly between the two to make up for that.

Sidenote: Fortunately, the GRC has an extra 32 horsepower to make up for that extra weight.

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At the moment, the differences in suspension and tuning design between the GRC and the GRY are unclear. It’s too early to say if they share the same springs, damper tuning and swing rods, as the Corolla was built on the Toyota model. Populous global architecture – C (GR-C), and the GRY is built on a modified Global Architecture-B (GR-B) platform that features the back of the GR-C.

Then, there’s the obvious weight difference and the fact that the current non-GR Corolla hatchback has an impressive array of Good things after-sales comment Available in the USA. As does GRY anywhere else in the world.

From personal experience, usually, cross-platforms between different models, or even different models, such as Mazda 2 and Ford Fiesta ST, means the suspension can be toggled just fine. However, it’s a one-way street: ideally, only the suspension from the heavier Fiesta ST should run in the lighter Mazda 2, because the suspension fitted to the Mazda 2 may not absorb the additional weight of the Fiesta ST, and so may blow off easier, And not the ride, and so forth. Conversely, when the tighter suspension continues for more weight in the Mazda 2, it means a slightly stiffer ride, and the parts are supposed to be longer.

In addition, the GRY is a special case, grouped together as a monolithic rally car. But still, you might think that there are some similarities because they are produced side by side in the same factory.

Or, none of that matters, just the suspension of a non-GR Corolla hatchback that can be swapped out for its hotter sibling! Still, this is all fun food for thought, and I’m sure we’ll get more clarity in the coming months on brake and suspension specs. We hope Toyota will coordinate with SEMA like done with GR86 And it provides an aftermarket and media measurement session to find out all of this.

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