A CLOSER LOOK AT TOYOTA'S GR PERFORMANCE SERIES AND THE GLOBAL GR LINEUP

From iconic models like the pioneering Prius to the chart-topping Tacoma, Toyota has solidified itself as the largest automotive company in history. Despite this, the Japanese giant continues on their journey of global dominance of the automotive market.

In the last five years, they have managed to take specifically the enthusiast market by storm with the full-scale roll-out of the GR (Gazoo Racing) series. There was no Toyota model more suitable to serve as the introduction of this new performance-focused line-up than what we now know as the fifth-generation GR Supra.

The rear-wheel drive sports coupe GR Supra has now served as the flagship model in the global GR Series since its introduction in 2019. Since then, Toyota has added three other full-fledged GR models; the GR Yaris in 2019, the GR 86 in 2021, and the GR Corolla in 2022.

Now that we are five years into the era of GR Toyota models, what has been the impact of the new brand so far? Join us for a closer look at the global GR Series and our thoughts on each currently available model.

The Flagship GR Supra

The largest and most powerful member of the GR line-up is none other than the GR Supra. Compared to all the other available GR models, the GR Supra is the outlier of this rowdy group. What makes the GR Supra the most luxurious, expensive, and capable model in the line-up? Well, a large role in the Supra's revival after decades of absence is the contributions of an unlikely teammate, German luxury powerhouse, BMW.

BMW Good, Not BMW Bad

Toyota had been plotting the return of the Supra for a long time, but the details about how that was going to happen were unclear at best. The Japanese brand knew that if they revived the Supra with exclusively inline-four or V-6 powertrain options, there would be riots in the streets of Japan.

Thus, Toyota had to swallow their pride and turn to the only company that could help their revival idea become a reality, BMW. With the best inline-six engine in production equipped, the BMW B58, and a ready-to-go RWD platform, the Supra was officially back.

The GR Supra Has No Rivals

Give Toyota an inch, and they will take a mile because they took a solid platform and shaped it in their own vision to make it better than it had ever been before. This fact is solidified by the sheer impact and success the Toyota GR Supra has had compared to the roadster BMW Z4 it shares a platform with. With its combination of raw power, luxury, comfort, and overall performance, the GR Supra is an obvious standout model with no real equal in the performance segment.

The Driver-Focused GR86

The platform known previously as the Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ has existed since 2012. Yet, for the second generation of this compact sports coupe released in 2021, the once-Scion has now become a full-fledged Toyota GR Series model, known now as the GR86.

Yet, just like the flagship GR Supra, the GR86 continues to exist only as a direct result of Toyota's collaboration with Subaru. How has the Toyota sports coupe fared as the entry-level GR Series model?

The GR86 Versus The Mazda MX-5 Miata

2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Performance Specifications

There are only two Japanese sports cars that have battled for the attention of budget-minded enthusiasts in the last five years; the Toyota GR86 and the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Although the Mazda Miata remains the cheaper option by a couple of thousand dollars, the GR 86 has its advantages.

The GR86 remains the more powerful option with better styling, interior quality, and overall comfort. Both are absolute joys at the racetrack and in the canyons, so the “right” choice will come down to personal preference.

The End Of The Subaru Partnership Is Sooner Than Later

Enthusiasts' largest complaint related to the GR86 and its predecessor have always stemmed from the same core issue: the underpowered, under-torqued, boring workhorse of an engine now known as the FA24D in GR86 models. Although more than capable of getting rowdy, the 2.4-liter FA24D boxer-four engine has always been the weakest link and dullest point of the GR86 platform. Yet, soon enough, that may change with the long-awaited introduction of a turbocharged powerplant.

The Hot, Yet Balanced GR Corolla

The latest addition to the growing GR Series is Toyota's modern re-imagining of the hot hatch: the GR Corolla. Few cars are as ubiquitous in the U.S. market as the Toyota Corolla, and the GR version of this otherwise docile econobox is the perfect performance vehicle without compromises.

The GR Corolla Is All Fun, No Stress

We never thought we would ever see a true high-octane track-capable modern Corolla model stateside, yet, Toyota decided to bless us one time with the release of the GR Corolla. Only a couple of modern sports cars have been capable of being a true commuter car without compromise while also being the fastest vehicle on the road simultaneously.

Yet, the fact is exactly what defines the greatness of the GR Corolla. It is an absolute gem to throw around in the corners, it feels light on its feet, and it wants to get you wherever you are going fast. Much of these pleasant driving dynamics can be attributed to the GR Corolla's impressive power-to-weight ratio with an average curb weight of under 3,300 pounds despite its AWD drivetrain, a feat in the modern era of automotive bloating.

A True Top To Bottom GR Model

The GR Corolla also stands out among the GR line-up as it is the only true-to-the-soil 100 percent US-based GR Toyota model, sporting the all-new Toyota-designed 1.6-liter G16E-GTS inline-three turbocharged engine. Enthusiasts had been begging the brand to create a proprietary engine platform for exclusive GR models and Toyota finally delivered.

The high-strung mini-sized 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder is a feat in itself, becoming the most powerful Toyota engine per liter ever made with 300 horsepower available on tap in GR Corolla models. Despite this, the GR Corolla is not the quickest car in a straight line, but plentiful torque makes mashing the pedal a joy every time you do it.

The Forbidden Fruit, The GR Yaris

Toyota killed off the ultra-compact Yaris model due to low sales and waning American interest in low-cost compact hatchbacks. So, although we don't get the 2024 GR Yaris model stateside, without it there would be no U.S-spec GR Corolla either.

Motorsport Still Drives Innovation

A three-door ultra-compact widebody hatchback is not exactly the design that comes to mind when thinking of the ideal consumer vehicle. This is because the GR Yaris only came to exist to fulfill the requirements of the WRC rule book and meet the homologation regulations.

Although costly, Toyota decided to follow through with the crazy idea of making this limited-production homologation special a reality. Thus, for the first time since the debut of the GR Series, Toyota had finally crafted a GR model that was 100 percent Toyota-designed from the ground up.

The Ultimate Toyota Hot Hatch

The 2024 facelifted GR Yaris now offers the same power output of 300 or so horsepower from the same 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder as its bigger brother, the GR Corolla. Yet, the GR Yaris is an astonishing 500 pounds lighter than the GR Corolla with the same AWD system and power output.

This power-to-weight ratio alone makes the GR Yaris one of the most impressive performance Toyota models ever made. It is clear that the Japanese brand put the desire to win competitions first, and the car making sense as a consumer model second.

We love that fact, and it saddens us we won't get to experience it across the pond. Yet, the GR Corolla, the “next best thing”, is damn good in its own right and has the advantage of improved practicality. Considering the impressive array of models we have seen so far, the future looks very bright for the Toyota GR Series.

2024-07-24T09:11:52Z dg43tfdfdgfd