2026 Toyota GR Corolla Spy Shots Leak Out: Fiercer Performance, Smaller Gun Gets Big Upgrade

Recently, a set of latest spy shots of the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla has been revealed. Although the new car is still in a state of tight camouflage, but from the details can still see a lot of eye-catching upgrades and changes. As Toyota's fan-favourite ‘small steel gun’, this revision focuses on aerodynamic optimisation, power output enhancement and further upgrades to the chassis tuning. The new car is expected to be officially unveiled in the third or fourth quarter of this year. The new GR Corolla is certainly worth paying attention to for performance car enthusiasts who are looking for both track excitement and daily commuting.

First look at the appearance, the new car continues the GR family fighting style, headlight modelling like two standing ‘7’, recognition pull full. The air intake area is enlarged, the heat dissipation efficiency is more fierce, the side of the compact body with multi-spoke rims + red brake calipers, the sense of sports directly burst. The blackened exterior mirrors and window edges, together with the suspected Michelin CUP 2 high-performance tyres (245/40 ZR18), make the car a proper ‘track-ready competitor’. The rear most eye-catching is the larger size of the rear spoiler, high-speed stability is stronger, tail lights and headlights echo the shape, the lower three exhaust layout and the current version of the same, full of combat atmosphere.

Although the interior was not captured in the spy photos, the GR Corolla's cockpit design is very ‘driver-friendly’ - the centre console and instruments are tilted towards the driver's seat to reduce line-of-sight diversion; the steering wheel and seat position are adjusted to make the driving position more ergonomic. The 12.3-inch full-colour TFT gauges provide not only general information, but also visual warnings, such as lane departure alerts, which are practical and full of technology.

Power is the main event, and the new car is likely to carry over the current model's turbocharged 1.6T three-cylinder engine, which maintains 224 kW of maximum power but soars from 370 Nm to 400 Nm of maximum torque. This means harder acceleration and a more furious torque output. The drivetrain is still a 6-speed manual + 8-speed automatic option, with standard front and rear limited-slip differentials, and it's built for the track. Chassis tuning optimisation, cornering handling and body rigidity will certainly be improved, it seems that Toyota this time is really want to make it a ‘civilian supercar’.

In the domestic market, the GR Corolla doesn't have many rivals, but the old faces like the Golf GTI and AMG A 45 are the favourites of the performance party. However, the GR Corolla's strengths lie in its more aggressive tuning, more combative looks, and Toyota's signature reliability. If you're looking for a two-seater that's both a grocery-getter and a track-goer, it's definitely worth adding to your list of options. Especially after the torque upgrade, zero hundred acceleration may be able to break into the 4-second club, and the price-performance ratio is directly against the more expensive competitors.

No price has been announced yet, but considering Toyota's GR lineup has always been about ‘affordable performance,’ it's not expected to be too far off the mark. If you have a budget of $300,000 and you're looking for a small car with a lot of character and performance, you might want to wait for the 2026 GR Corolla, which could be one of the best buys in its class when it comes to upgraded looks, power, and handling. Are you ready?