Last week, we discovered how much Toyota would be charging for the GR Corolla in 2024, and that a new trim level would be joining the lineup. It turns out that the new Premium trim may have usurped the hardcore Morizo Edition trim.
The automaker has “no plans” to sell the Morizo Edition again for the 2024 model year, a spokesperson for Toyota Motor North America, told Carscoops. However, it will “continue to evaluate the market to study future opportunities.”
Fans of hardcore, track-ready hatchbacks may despair at the news, but there is a sliver of good news. You can still buy a model year 2023 GR Corolla Morizo Edition, it’s just even rarer now than it was before.
Read: 2023 Toyota GR Corolla MORIZO Edition Goes Hardcore, Drops Rear Seats And Gains More Torque
Toyota told us that so far, it has sold a total of 181 GR Corolla Morizo Editions in the U.S. That’s 19 fewer than the 200 it allocated for the market, which means that there are still examples left for enthusiasts to snap up. However, the spokesperson told us that only 15 of them are actually up for sale, as four are not available. Just why was not made clear, but they may have been used for internal Toyota purposes, such as test fleets.
Just why you’d want a $49,900 Corolla is a fairly easy question to answer. Beyond being limited in nature, the special edition vehicle is even torquier than the already hot hatch. Although it makes the same 300 hp (224kW/304 PS) as other GR Corollas, special tuning means that its engine churns out 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque, rather than the standard 273 lb-ft (370 Nm).
In addition, it went on a serious weight-loss regimen, ditching its rear seats, its rear door speakers, its rear window regulators, and its rear wiper blade and motor. That helps the Morizo Edition weigh almost 100 lbs (45 kg) less than the Circuit Edition model.
With 18-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and more, it’s doing everything it can to earn the approval of its namesake, Akio Toyoda, who races under the pseudonym Morizo.
Filling its shoes as the third GR Corolla in the lineup for 2024 will be the new Premium model. Whereas the Morizo Edition dropped all creature comforts, the 2024 GR Corolla Premium adds some. It combines the limited-slip differentials with suede trim, heated seats, and a fancy sound system to offer a refined experience that will no doubt be easier to live with. Especially if you have more than one friend.
