Toyota drops GR Corolla’s 300-horsepower AWD powertrain in GR86

Drivetrain-swapped three-cylinder GR86 pays homage to Toyota Celica GT-4 rally-winner of the 1980s and 1990s

SEMA hasn’t quite kicked off yet, and Toyota has already come up with a concept for the show. Dressed in classic WRC Celica livery and equipped with the entire engine and all-wheel-drive transmission setup from the GR Corolla hatchback, the GR86 pushes more buttons than a 1940s switchboard operator.

While the car looks great on the surface, which we’ll discuss later, the heart of the project is the powertrain swap. That’s no easy feat, as the GR86 is designed around a longitudinally mounted boxer four-cylinder engine driving only the rear wheels, while the GR Corolla is a transversely-engined hatchback that drives all Power is delivered from all four corners.

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But Toyota’s manufacturing team still managed to squeeze the Corolla’s 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine into the Corolla, even though it’s much taller than the original Subaru engine. A special subframe and extensive modifications were required to accommodate the Corolla hubs to accommodate the front pair of driveshafts.

The engine currently runs stock GR Corolla tune, delivering 300 hp (304 PS) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque. But Toyota admits there’s room for improvement with some simple tweaks. Although it doesn’t claim to offer additional power, it has prepared the 86 for the possibility by upgrading the inline three-cylinder engine with a high-performance intercooler, oil cooler and racing ECU to control spark, Fuel and boost.

With a drivetrain setup closer to the old Celica GT-4 than the current GR86, the concept was in desperate need of a visual makeover inspired by Toyota’s rally days of the 1980s and 1990s, and that’s exactly what it got. The halo white paint finish is offset by classic-looking red and green accents that perfectly match the modern Toyota Gazoo Racing logo.

But it’s the details that really make it complete, with red fenders, a Celica GT-Four-style rear spoiler and a hood-mounted light cluster. Inside, the no-frills interior features racing seats and six-point harnesses.

“We built this car for GR and Toyota rally fans,” said Mike Tripp, Toyota’s head of marketing. “This is a dream car and our way of celebrating past achievements and the possibility of the World Rally Championship returning to the United States.”

But it also looks like another big hint from Toyota that the Celica is making a comeback.