Toyota has revealed a crazy-looking GR Corolla concept at this year’s Speciality Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.
Referred to as the GR Corolla Rally concept, this show car is intended to provide a “glimpse of the new model’s potential for aftermarket customisation”. It’s not intended to go into production.
This concept started life as a regular, road-going GR Corolla Circuit Edition and received a makeover that was inspired by the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Yaris Rally1 World Rally Championship (WRC) race car.
The team behind the GR Corolla Rally concept fabricated an aggressive wide-body kit with three-inch fender flares made from 20-gauge steel, and integrated carbon composite side skirts. The concept is therefore six inches (15.24cm) wider than the regular GR Corolla.
There are also large openings in the front and rear fenders which direct and exhaust dirty air.
At the front there’s a carbon composite front splitter, and at the rear there’s a custom-fabricated dual-tier rear wing.
On each corner are 17-inch OZ Racing wheels wrapped in Continental VikingContact 7 tyres. There are also fully-adjustable TEIN Gravel Rally coilovers.
The GR Corolla Rally concept is still powered by a 1.6-litre G16E-GTS turbocharged three-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual transmission, but is paired with a custom MagnaFlow exhaust system and GR high-flow air filter.
Power and torque figures for the concept aren’t quoted, but the regular GR Corolla produces 220kW of power and 370Nm of torque.
Providing the stopping power are a set of 14-inch ventilated and slotted rotors with four-piston aluminium calipers. Toyota also added Wilwood turning brakes, a secondary set of rear calipers, to help provide the braking and turning control necessary for gravel driving.
The interior of the concept is kitted out for rally driving and features a rear section that’s been modified to accomodate a custom steel roll cage and spare wheel.
There are OMP Racing racing seats and belts, a OMP Racing fire suppression system, ZeroNoise rally intercom system, spare tyre mount and jack.
This Toyota GR Corolla Rally concept is just one of 12 additional project cars for the 2022 SEMA show, which showcase a “breadth of on- and off-pavement performance and adventure”.
As previously reported, the GR Corolla hot hatch is set to launch in Australia in the first quarter of 2023, with only 500 units for the first year.
It will round out Toyota’s flourishing GR performance range alongside the GR Yaris, GR Supra, and GR86.
Pricing is yet to be revealed, but interested customers can now express their interest at Toyota dealers.
Click an image to view the gallery.
MORE: Everything Toyota Corolla
MORE: Toyota wants diehards to buy high-demand GR Corolla, not scalpers
MORE: Toyota GR Corolla two-seat ‘Morizo Edition’ for Australia in 2023
