Toyota unveils two-seat GR Corolla Morizo Edition
Still gutted about no GR Corolla for the UK? Best look away now...
Two-seat hot hatches bring out the worst in PH, the comments usually suggesting a dereliction of duty almost - as if a hot hotch couldn’t call itself so without five doors, four seats and some good stowage solutions. Maybe they have a point: hot hatches are meant to be practical performance cars. But it also ignores the fact that the some of those two-seaters - the Golf Clubsport S, Megane Trophy R, first two Mini GPs and so on - have been superb driver’s cars, regardless of shape or original remit. Now Toyota, seemingly intent on becoming everyone’s favourite carmaker, is doubling up on its two-seat hot hatches with this, the GR Corolla Morizo Edition.
Following last year’s Yaris GRMN, the Morizo - Toyota president Akio Toyoda’s development driver alter ego - promises to bring “an untamed energy that captivates customers” as well as “a driving taste that excites and that powers the urge to keep on driving.” Which sound like very laudable aims for a stripped-out hot hatch. It’s more than just the 30kg saved from ditching the rear bench, too, taking kerbweight to 1,440kg.
Elsewhere torque has been boosted to 295lb from the standard 273, with the promise of better mid-range muscle, aided by a lower first, second and third gear. Toyota says they provide “a pleasing sense of gear engagement.” There’s also another 3.3m of structural adhesive and more body bracing for increased rigidity, 245-section Michelin Cup 2s (in place of the 235-section Yokohama Advans) and new bucket seats exclusive to the Morizo to keep the driver hugged tight. Finally, the new model gets additional Alcantara inside and an exclusive Matte Steel paint with Morizo’s signature on the windshield. So don’t go damaging it off-road. Which Toyota seems very keen for buyers to do (though perhaps on some different tyres), if the development video is anything to go by.
Otherwise the Morizo is standard, though it’s hard to imagine any objections when that means more than 300hp from the turbo triple, a six-speed manual gearbox and double Torsen diffs. Alongside an “enhanced dynamic performance”, it’s easy to imagine many dedicated GRheads clamouring for a Morizo. Just none from PH, of course.
Which leads us on to availability. Toyota has revealed the Morizo Edition alongside the GR Corolla RZ, which is the car we saw earlier in the year but for the Japanese market. The two-seat car is actually going to the US, with both shown simultaneously. “GR Corolla Morizo Edition is scheduled to be available in limited quantities through GR Garage locations nationwide from this winter, with a reservation lottery for it planned to start this fall”, said the press release, with interested parties told to keep an eye on the website for more details.
Either way, there hardly seems much doubt that the special edition car will be the one to go for - assuming you're the sort of American who can come to terms with that missing rear bench. We definitely could. We're also becoming more and more excited about what Toyota has planned for its next trick...
If you did it yourself you'd have to find those panels to make it look nice and neat.
If you did it yourself you'd have to find those panels to make it look nice and neat.
Same story for the Corolla really. If you only want / need 2 seats, but still want a hatchback body shape, then these are ideal really.
Another well done Toyota.
I would rather keep the Yaris GR with its 200kg weight saving than this, which is still 2 adults heavier than the Yaris GR.
For none Yaris GR markets, this is nice if you like a 2 seat 4 door hatch,
For me I would rather a Yaris GR, which keeps rear seats and useful weight saving and smaller footprint, with same running gear
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such GR cars need to be 2(3)-door only!
but I guess they bring out some special variants also, with 3 doors, 2 seater only, the GR-RS version and or GR-Rally version, lighter + xtra ponies on top.
The front and back do look good me thinks, ok the 3 exhaust is maybe? but maybe that is one bypas silent middle? and the 2 side all open? don't know.
I am baffled by some comments. Did you really think toyota were going to make a two door corolla? Or weld the doors shut? And 4wd cars with crash protection and toys dont weigh as much as 20 year old biscuit tin rally reps shocker... deary me
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