Following the launch of the hotly anticipated GR Corolla performance hatch in February earlier this year, Toyota has taken performance to a whole new level with the arrival of the strictly limited Morizo Edition - an even more focused version of the acclaimed GR Corolla.
Limited to just 25 units for Australia, the Morizo Edition adds a range of focused enhancements over the GR Corolla GTS designed to maximise precision handling and track-day performance.
Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said the Morizo Edition provided even more appeal for GR Corolla fans wanting to push the car to its limits.
"The GR Corolla Morizo Edition is the result of our engineers' desire to create a vehicle that pushes the boundaries of hot hatch performance," Mr Hanley said.
"Every upgrade on the Morizo Edition has been introduced in order to enhance dynamism, reduce lap times and raise the pulse of driving enthusiasts, as is the case for all TOYOTA GAZOO Racing products.
"And with just 25 units allocated to the Australian market, interest in Toyota's latest performance car offering is sure to be sky-high."
The 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine underpinning the GR Corolla range has been tuned to produce an extra 30Nm of torque, to a maximum of 400Nm from 3250-4600rpm. Power remains the same with 221kW at 6500rpm.
To help optimally deploy all 400Nm, engineers recalibrated the close-ratio six-speed intelligent manual transmission with altered gear ratios for the first and third gear, allowing for the engine power band to be used more efficiently. The final gear ratio has also been configured to optimise drive torque.
High-strength gear material has been adopted to improve durability, with the first, third, fourth, fifth and final drive gears gaining shock treatment to enhance shock torque strength. The spring inside the synchroniser has also been strengthened in the name of improved shifting performance during sports driving.
Official fuel economy figures for the Morizo Edition stands at 8.6 litres per 100km1 on the combined cycle, with combined cycle CO2 emissions of 196 grams per km2.
Monotube shock absorbers have been adopted on the Morizo Edition, further improving roll rigidity and responsiveness of the MacPherson strut front and double-wishbone rear suspension.
Handling grip is enhanced with the fitment of sticky 245/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber, wrapped around 10-spoke, 18-inch BBS®3 forged alloy wheels. "TOYOTA GAZOO RACING" is engraved into the outer edge of the rim, with the "R" finished in red for a special visual touch.
Building on the rigid and lightweight TNGA-C platform, the Morizo Edition adds further structural reinforcements to provide the stiffest possible underpinnings.
Compared to the GTS, an extra 3334mm of structural adhesive has been applied throughout the Morizo Edition's body, representing a 6082mm increase over the standard Corolla hatch.
Inside the cabin two new braces bolster structural reinforcement, with a suspension tower brace between the rear wheels joined by a new floor brace in place of the rear seats.
The removal of the rear seats represent just one of the many weight-saving measures applied to the Morizo Edition, which cumulatively shed 30kg from the vehicle's kerb weight compared with the GTS.
The removal of the rear seats reduces over 10kg of weight, with various damping and silencing material and the rear wiper and motor deleted further shedding weight. The lightweight 18-inch BBS®3 forged alloy wheels also help reduce mass.
Morizo Editions adopt a roof made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic, which not only reduces weight by 2.5kg but lowers the vehicle's centre of gravity by lightening the upper areas of the vehicle.
Other weight-saving measures include removing the steering wheel heater, parking sensors and wireless charger4, and changing the dual-zone air conditioner to a single-zone unit.
Inside the vehicle, the Morizo Edition adds a number of race-inspired touches to assist in high-speed driving and cornering.
The standard mixed-material seats in the GTS have been swapped out with race bucket seats upholstered in Brin Naub®3 perforated suede, featuring extra side and seat-base bolstering to maximise occupant grip and stability during performance driving.
Suede has been applied to the steering wheel, manual parking brake and shift boot for strong grip, with alumite red metal accents applied to the steering wheel centre marker and shifter.5
Red stitching also appears on the seats, steering wheel, shifter and parking brake for an extra-sporty touch.5
Like the GTS, the Morizo Edition utilises an 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system supporting wireless Apple CarPlay®6 and wired Android Auto™7, paired with a colour head-up display and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
In the name of weight saving, the eight-speaker JBL®3 audio system has been changed to a two-speaker setup, while native satellite navigation functionality has been removed.
Toyota Connected Services8 is offered as standard, providing enhanced safety and convenience features thanks to an inbuilt Data Communication Module built into the vehicle.
Owners can remotely check the status of their vehicle through the myToyota Connect smartphone app9, and the vehicle is designed to automatically communicate with emergency services in the event of a collision or crash10.
A comprehensive suite of Toyota Safety Sense11 active safety technologies are included on the Morizo Edition, carrying over all the features of the GTS with the exception of parking sensors.
Along with the core Frosted White pearl and Tarmac Black metallic exterior paint colours, a new Matte Steel hue has been introduced exclusively for the Morizo Edition.5
Keen observers will also notice the front intercooler on the Morizo has been emblazoned with a 'GR-FOUR' emblem for a subtle but dynamic touch.
The GR Corolla Morizo Edition is covered by Toyota Warranty Advantage12, offering up to 5-year, unlimited kilometre coverage extending to seven years on engine and driveline13, with capped-price servicing for the first three years/60,000km (whichever comes first) and each 6-month/10,000km service costing $30014.
The range of focused upgrades on the Morizo Edition serve to maximise the performance of Toyota's flagship hot hatch, applying Toyota GAZOO Racing's expertise in motorsport competition to extract the maximum possible performance from the Corolla platform.
The Morizo Edition is priced to reflect its flagship status at $77,800 plus on-road costs.15 Premium paint costs $575, while the exclusive Matte Steel paint colour adds $2500.15
GR Corolla pricing15
GTS: $62,300
Morizo Edition: $77,800
Options:
Premium paint: $575
Matte paint (Morizo Edition only): $2500
