Toyota Corolla to Get GRMN Hot Hatch Variant
Ever since the new Toyota Corolla Hatchback was unveiled, people have been asking for a hot hatch variant, and it seems the automaker is happy to oblige.
According to Dutch site AutoRAI, Toyota deputy chief designer Toshio Kanei has confirmed the Corolla will be getting a hot hatch developed by the Toyota Gazoo Racing motorsport group, which has already had a go at the 86 sports car and whose GR Supra was one of the highlights of the recent Detroit Auto Show. But contrary to previous rumors and speculations, the Corolla GRMN won’t have a hybrid powertrain.
“We are currently investigating what would be most effective for the European market, but a Corolla GRMN is certainly realistic,” Kanei told AutoRAI. “We are already working on that. The development takes place under the supervision of Toyota Gazoo Racing. This department has included the Corolla GRMN in the future plan, but for now the project is still in the planning stage.”
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He added that it would not have a hybrid powertrain and strongly suggested the car could have a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. “We want more power, an even sportier engine and lower CO2 emissions,” he said, calling the possible configuration “interesting.”
The downside is that most of the exciting GRMN cars do not ever seem to make their way to the United States. The Yaris GRMN, for instance, is a proper hot hatch with rallying roots, but on this side of the big pond it was almost discontinued.
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News Source: AutoRAI (Dutch language)
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