The End of the Three-Cylinder Era?
The Toyota GR Corolla has earned cult status thanks to its wild 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, a tiny powerhouse delivering 300 horsepower and pure driver engagement. But that charismatic engine may not live on. With the reveal of a new Corolla concept in Japan came a fresh turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder reportedly capable of around 400 hp.
Toyota’s Chief Technology Officer Hiroki Nakajima hinted to MotorTrend that this new engine could power future performance models. While he stopped short of confirming its use in the next GR Corolla, the move would make sense, especially since the three-cylinder’s engineering limits have already been pushed to their edge.
Why a Turbo Four Makes Sense
The GR Corolla’s 1.6-liter engine was a triumph of engineering, but also a complex and costly one. Chief engineer Naoyuki Sakamoto admitted the team “knows the limit” of the three-cylinder, which required significant work to meet higher power targets. A 2.0-liter turbo four offers simpler construction, more tuning headroom, and greater durability, all vital as Toyota aims to keep its GR lineup competitive.
If the new GR Corolla truly makes 400 hp, it would outgun rivals like the Honda Civic Type R (315 hp) and Volkswagen Golf R (328 hp), giving Toyota’s performance division a serious bragging right in the hot-hatch arms race.
Enter the “Baby 2JZ”
Toyota’s new 2.0-liter engine, reportedly code-named G20E, is rumored to be capable of far more than 400 hp. Engineers have hinted it could reach 600 hp with a larger turbo setup, earning it the nickname “baby 2JZ.” The design philosophy echoes Toyota’s iconic inline-six: strong, tunable, and built to handle abuse.
This new engine also aligns with Toyota’s broader powertrain strategy. The company is actively developing new internal-combustion engines, reaffirming its commitment to “manufacture engines until the very end,” even as electrification accelerates across the industry.
Toyota
GR’s Hybrid Future
Toyota’s performance roadmap extends beyond the GR Corolla. The automaker is reportedly developing a mid-engine hybrid sports car, possibly a future GR or MR2 revival. This would pair hybrid technology with pure driving dynamics, ensuring Toyota’s enthusiast DNA lives on in the electrified era.
In this multi-path strategy, the GR Corolla’s rumored turbo-four could serve as both a bridge and a testbed showing that internal combustion still has plenty of life left, even in a hybrid-dominated future.
What’s Next for the GR Corolla
While nothing is confirmed, all signs point toward an evolution rather than a farewell. The next GR Corolla may lose its distinctive three-cylinder sound, but it could gain the muscle to rival far pricier performance cars.
For enthusiasts, that means the same rally-bred personality just faster, tougher, and better prepared for the road ahead. Whether it’s 300 or 400 hp, one thing is clear: Toyota isn’t done making drivers smile.
Toyota
