Toyota GR Corolla gains 8AT

Hot hatches are supposed to be simple. Small car, big attitude, manual gearbox, done. But Toyota is changing that formula a bit with the 2026 GR Corolla — and the change is bigger than “now it has an automatic.” The car still makes 300 hp from its turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder, still sends power through GR-Four all-wheel drive, and still looks like it wants to start an argument in a parking lot. What changed is that Toyota is trying to make the car faster to live with, not just faster to admire. ### What actually changed? The headline item is the new 8-speed GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission. Toyota first rolled that setup into the GR Corolla line for the 2025 model-year update, and it carries into the 2026 U.S. car alongside the six-speed intelligent manual. So this is not a last-minute special edition — it is now part of the core menu. For 2026, Toyota lists two grades in the U.S.: GR Corolla and GR Corolla Premium Plus. (pressroom.toyota.com) ### Why does the automatic matter? Because this is not a commuter-car automatic meant to soften the car. Toyota tuned it to hold gears under hard driving, react to braking and throttle inputs, and work with paddle shifters. Basically, the pitch is that you get the same rally-bred character without needing to row your own gears every second. That opens the car to buyers who want the GR Corolla’s chassis and drivetrain but either cannot or do not want to daily a manual. (pressroom.toyota.com) ### Did Toyota change anything else? Yes — and this is the part enthusiasts will care about more than the transmission debate. Toyota says the 2026 car gets a new secondary air intake duct to help manage temperatures, plus 45.6 feet of additional structural adhesive in the body to improve rigidity, rear grip, and steering feel. The engine stays at 300 hp and 295 lb-ft, but the supporting hardware got attention where track-capable cars usually need it most: heat control and consistency. (pressroom.toyota.com) ### Is this still the same GR Corolla underneath? Pretty much, yes. The bones are familiar — the G16E-GTS turbo three, GR-Four AWD, front and rear limited-slip diffs, and the basic “Corolla turned feral” setup all stay in place. Think of this less like a reinvention and more like Toyota sanding down the one barrier that kept some buyers out. The catch is that purists will still see the manual as the real thing, even if the automatic ends up quicker in some real-world situations. (pressroom.gazooracing.com) ### What’s the UK production story? That part is real too. Toyota Motor Europe said in May 2025 that Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK would begin GR Corolla production from 2026, citing manufacturing capability, motorsport expertise, and rising demand. Preparations started in 2024. So some 2026 GR Corollas tied to export markets, including cars headed for North America, may now come from Britain rather than Japan. (pressroom.toyota.com) ### Why would Toyota move production? Mostly capacity. The GR Corolla has always been niche, but demand ran hotter than Toyota’s original plan. Expanding production to the UK gives Toyota another place to build the car without turning it into a mass-market appliance. It also says something about GR as a sub-brand — Toyota now treats these cars as durable global products, not one-off halo toys. (newsroom.toyota.eu) ### So what does this mean for buyers? If you wanted a GR Corolla but the manual kept you away, Toyota just removed your main excuse. If you care about provenance, VIN nerd stuff, or where your car was assembled, the UK shift adds a new wrinkle. But the bigger point is simple: Toyota is broadening the car without sanding off its edge. That is a tricky balance — and for now, it looks like Toyota knows exactly why people liked the GR Corolla in the first place. (newsroom.toyota.eu) (pressroom.toyota.com)