Facelifted Toyota GR Corolla Gains Exclusive Circuit Mode in Japan

The 2025 Toyota GR Corolla facelift breaks cover in Japan with an exclusive Circuit Mode and new 8AT variant.

Months after making its global debut, the facelifted Toyota GR Corolla is finally making its landfall in Japan. For its native Japanese market, this beloved hot hatch gains similar upgrades to the global-spec products, plus some additional features that are exclusive to the JDM-spec model.

For starters, the JDM-spec GR Corolla facelift comes in both 6MT and 8AT variants, with the latter being in the form of Toyota’s new eight-speed GR Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT). Regardless of your preference, both variants share the same 1.6-litre 3-cyl G16E-GTS turbocharged engine that has been uprated to produce 300 HP and 400 NM, which is the same output seen on its newly-updated three-door twin, the GR Yaris facelift.

Similarly, power is sent to all wheels via Toyota’s proprietary GR-Four AWD system, which in itself gets several new torque split options, such as 60:40 in Normal driving mode and 50:50 in Gravel, while the Track driving mode has a variable torque split from 60:40 to 30:70 depending on the driving conditions.

What’s new and unique for the JDM GR Corolla facelift is the new Circuit Mode, which enables the three-pot turbocharged lump to unleash more power. This special mode can only be used when the car’s GPS system detects if it is nearing any supported circuits or racetracks, where it then switches the standard metre cluster display into a race-specific one.

More importantly, the new Circuit Mode also engages a built-in anti-lag system with variable settings, while at the same time maximizing the output of the cooling fan and lifting up the top speed limiter from the government-mandated limit of 180 KM/H to the actual car limit of 230 KM/H.

On the visual front, the Japanese-spec GR Corolla facelift looks the same as the global versions, where it gets similar visual and design upgrades as the rest. This includes the new front bumper design featuring more prominent air intakes and the fog lamps delete, while the rest of the car remains the same as before. Interestingly, the facelifted model also gets the 18-inch BBS forged alloy wheels as standard, which were previously offered to the exclusive Morizo edition.

On board, the facelifted GR Corolla does not boast any controversial redesign works as its three-door twin, but buyers in Japan can opt for the new Sport Package, which adds several red-hued trims and accents around the cabin, as well as new semi-bucket seats and an ultrasuede-wrapped steering wheel.

Predictably, the facelifted Toyota GR Corolla has also gained slightly in prices, with the 6MT model now starting at JPY 5.68 million (RM163,300), and the new 8AT variant is priced at JPY 5.98 million (RM171,900). Mind you, these prices are a fraction of what we have to pay here in Malaysia, with the local-spec GR Corolla facelift currently retailing at RM367,000 for the 6MT variant.