Toyota has already revealed the facelifted version of its GR Corolla hot hatch, but that hasn’t stopped the carmaker from keeping the camouflage on one example in Europe.
Our spy photographers captured this GR Corolla wearing German number plates and camouflage on its front bumper, as well as covered rear badging.
The decision to do so is odd, given Toyota revealed the updated hot hatch in August, which features a new front bumper design that is claimed to aid cooling while also being more aerodynamic.
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Though it appears there are no visual changes compared to the upcoming GR Corolla, it’s possible this example is being used to trial additional performance upgrades.
Toyota confirmed with the facelifted model’s unveiling that its turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine would continue to produce 221kW but also receive a 30Nm torque increase, pushing it up to 400Nm – a figure previously reserved for the track-focused, two-seat Morizo Edition.
It’s unlikely Toyota is gearing up for a run at any Nürburgring records, given the current fastest lap in the GR Corolla’s class is held by the significantly more powerful Audi RS3.
We’ve also previously seen already-revealed cars continuing to wear camouflage with no changes. That includes examples of the BYD Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid SUV in Australia, which were spotted with deceptive liveries even after the car went on sale.
What we do know is that Toyota is due to bring the updated GR Corolla to Australia between October and December 2024, and the hot hatch will finally be available with an eight-speed automatic transmission alongside its existing six-speed manual.
Toyota Australia is yet to announce pricing for the refreshed GR Corolla, which currently opens at $64,190 before on-road costs for pre-facelifted examples.
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