Impressed With Hyundai N, Toyota Eyes Down a Performance Corolla

Toyota is looking to add TRD performance models across its product portfolio, Toyota USA general manager Jack Hollis told AutoGuide earlier this year, and that will likely include a Corolla TRD.

But while Hollis didn’t share any details on the Corolla TRD, a new interview with Toyota performance engineer Tada-San has given us a little more insight into Toyota’s forthcoming sport compact.

Speaking to Australia’s CarSales, Tada-San said a performance Corolla is being looked at and agreed that Hyundai has done a good job with the development of its first two performance N products, the i30 N and Veloster N.

“It’s not just Hyundai. Other car brands are doing this too, so we are researching this and we have to create the

brand strategy,” he told CarSales.

The brand strategy seems a bit confusing at the moment, with Tada-San referring to the performance Corolla as the Corolla GR (Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s racing division), but Hollis referencing a Corolla TRD. Toyota may be planning to use the TRD nameplate on its performance models in the US, where it’s already an established brand, and using GR in Europe, Asia and other markets.

SEE ALSO: Toyota Corolla AWD Under Consideration

We may have already seen hints of this strategy playing out, with Toyota launching the Yaris GRMN (Gazoo Racing Master of Nurburgring) in Europe and the Avalon TRD and Camry TRD in North America.

Toyota is also trying to figure out which performance models to focus on first. After launching the 2020 Supra, its performance engineers’ focus will turn to another model – it’s just not yet clear what model that may be.

“We have lots of requests from different countries, so it’s really, really challenging to decide on the order [of performance models],” Tada-San said.

Toyota fans excited for a performance focused Corolla shouldn’t hold their breath, though. The hot Corolla is probably still a couple years away at the very least. Toyota fans will have more sporty choices in the near future, though, with the Supra set to go on sale next year and the Avalon and Camry TRD arriving in the coming months.

[Source: CarSales]

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