This things has all the makings of a home run to me! Thank you Toyota for making a true performance car, without a Subaru engine!
What is going on with that roof paint?
Photography by J.A. Ackley; Lead Courtesy Toyota
When Toyota announced the GR Corolla Morizo edition, most enthusiasts focused on the big changes. Increased torque (22 lb.-ft. more than the Core and Circuit editions). Less weight (106 pounds, estimated). Of course, the lack of rear seats. (Sorry kids, you’ll have to find another way to get home.)
However, look closer at the details and you’ll see how Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR) squeezed even more out of its existing GR Corollas for a car named in honor of Toyota’s president and GR Master Driver.
[Where did the GR Corolla Morizo get its name?]
They say the last 10 pounds are the hardest to lose. That holds true for cars as well.
To achieve an estimated 100-plus pounds of weight savings, engineers focused on the details. Sure, they threw out the rear seats–and increased cargo space, which the company says can hold up to four spare tires–but there are more pounds to shed.
They removed the rear windshield wiper and motor. No rear speakers and window regulators, either. Electronics for modern-day conveniences, which you don’t need at the track, add a surprising amount of weight.
The Morizo receives the same engine–a turbocharged, 1.6-liter, three-cylinder G16E-GTS–as the other GR Corollas. It also puts out the same horsepower at 300. However, Toyota engineers retuned the engine to increase torque.
Yes, the car comes with a stick, but with an Morizo-exclusive, close-ratio, six-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT) with rev-matching engineered to accommodate high torque levels. (Don’t worry, despite that name, it still has a clutch pedal).
Engineers changed the transmission’s gear ratios, differential gear ratio and engine tuning to support sustained acceleration at peak torque, too. Peak torque comes in at 3250-4600 rpm, rather than 3000-5500 rpm in the other GR Corollas.
The Morizo wears Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, with 10mm more of tread width than its GR Corolla siblings. The rubber mounts to 18-inch forged alloy wheels (which also save weight) rather than cast alloy ones found on other GR Corollas.
Toyota said it will tune the Morizo suspension differently, “for a precision driving feel fit for racing.”
Inside, the car has exclusive red-and-black Ultrasuede and leather sport seating, with high bolsters and harness holes. It also features an Ultrasuede-wrapped steering wheel with red sightline, shift knob and boot and parking brake lever.
On the outside, the Morizo gets exclusive front brake ducts.
Lastly, the Morizo comes in two colors: Windchill Pearl and a Morizo-exclusive, “matte-finished Gray,” as pictured here.
The GR factory at Toyota’s Motomachi plant will build the Toyota GR Corolla Morizo. Pricing is still to be announced, with availability starting in 2023. Only 200 numbered units will be produced.
This things has all the makings of a home run to me! Thank you Toyota for making a true performance car, without a Subaru engine!
What is going on with that roof paint?
A four door with no rear seats. I get it, but wow.
In reply to CyberEric :
It's carbon fiber
Wow, never seen carbon fiber like that before. Cool.
Do they all have carbon fiber roofs or just the Morizo addition? I didn't see it mentioned in the article.
Noddaz said:A four door with no rear seats. I get it, but wow.
Looks to be something similar to the Renault Megane Trophy R where the seats were replaced with a harness bar:
Now that is a proper fun looking car.
Will it be coming to the US market?
CyberEric said:Wow, never seen carbon fiber like that before. Cool.
Do they all have carbon fiber roofs or just the Morizo addition? I didn't see it mentioned in the article.
The carbon fiber looks like that because it's forged carbon fiber rather than woven carbon fiber you more commonly see. Instead of using that woven fabric, which has a distinct pattern, forged uses chopped up pieces of carbon fiber, which creates a random pattern. From my research, the forged carbon fiber allows you to form the material in just about any shape you want, where you're limited with the traditional carbon fiber. You can also manufacture forged carbon fiber parts quicker.
The GR Corolla Circuit Edition also has a carbon fiber roof. The Core Edition does not.
Can anyone confirm all models of GR Corolla bottom has added panels to improve aero..?
Can anyone confirm all models of GR Corolla bottom has added panels to improve aero..?
alvint said:Can anyone confirm all models of GR Corolla bottom has added panels to improve aero..?
Toyota said all the GR Corollas have a "flat underfloor" for improved aerodynamics.
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