The GR Corolla went on sale today in Japan, but you can’t just go to your local dealer and buy one like it was announced back in June when the hot hatch was revealed. Instead, you must register to order a performance machine by entering the lottery. The first batch of production cars was limited to 500 units for the regular version and to just 70 units for the more extreme Morizo Edition with two seats and an additional 30 Nm (22 lb-ft) of torque.
Applications can be registered until December 18 for spicier derivatives at GR Garage locations nationwide. If you’re sticking with the standard GR Corolla, lottery app purchases can be made online until December 19. On January 6th, 70 people lucky enough to be given the chance to purchase the Morizo Edition will be announced. A list of another 500 customers who can claim the standard car will be announced a day later. Deliveries for both flavors are slated to begin in spring 2023.
As for why Toyota adopted this unusual procedure, the problems stem from supply bottlenecks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and semiconductor shortages. The Japanese automaker has no other way but to limit production, at least initially. The company knew the GR Corolla would be in high demand at home and knew it wouldn’t be able to fill all orders. In addition, this model is also being sold in North America, putting additional pressure on supply.
Speaking of North America, Toyota Canada is holding a contest to determine the nine winners who are given the chance to buy a GR Corolla. In the United States, prices start at $35,900 for the Core Edition, followed by the $42,900 Circuit Edition, and the $49,900 Morizo Edition. Japanese pricing is also out, showing a sticker price of 5,250,000 yen for the GR Corolla RZ and 7,150,000 yen for the Morizo Edition. At the current exchange rate, the results are around $39,200 and $53,400, respectively.
Toyota said it would consider extending sales of the GR Corolla as long as supply constraints were not a problem after production of the first batch of cars. In the US, the entry-level Core Edition is limited to 5,000 units for the first year where as the mid-level Circuit Edition will be limited to 1,500 units. The top of the range will be a 200-car affair for 2023MY.
