We have a soft spot for the Toyota GR Corolla. Whether you choose the automatic or the manual model, you really can’t go wrong with the plucky little performance hatchback. Much of its charm comes from the turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine, which makes a healthy 300 horsepower. Unfortunately, that three-cylinder may not be long for this world.
With the debut of the new Corolla concept in Japan, Toyota also unveiled a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine reportedly capable of producing around 400 hp. The new engine is said to be less complex than the three-cylinder currently found in the GR Corolla, which could mean bad news for our beloved three-banger.
Speaking with MotorTrend in Japan, Chief Technology Officer Hiroki Nakajima hinted that the new engine could find its way into future performance models. While Nakajima wouldn’t confirm whether the next GR Corolla will adopt the four-cylinder, the writing seems to be on the wall.
Even if Toyota decides to give the next GR Corolla a larger, more powerful engine, there’s good news for enthusiasts—gas engines aren’t going anywhere. Nakajima-san reaffirmed that Toyota “should manufacture engines until the very end.”
Photo by: Toyota
As much as we love the current three-cylinder, transitioning the GR Corolla to a simpler and more potent four-cylinder engine makes sense in the long run. When we spoke with the GR Corolla’s chief engineer, Naoyuki Sakamoto, he admitted that the team “knows the limit” of the current three-cylinder engine and that it required extensive engineering to boost power for the automatic model.
If the next-generation GR Corolla does step up to 400 hp, it would surpass both the Honda Civic Type R (315 hp) and the latest Volkswagen Golf R (328 hp). Still, we’ll have to wait and see if—or when—that new GR Corolla hits the market.
In the meantime, buyers can pick up the 2026 GR Corolla starting at $41,080, including destination.
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