Toyota GR Corolla AT launched in Malaysia, priced from RM378,950

KUALA LUMPUR: UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has officially launched the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla Automatic Transmission (AT) in Malaysia, adding an automatic option to Toyota Gazoo Racing’s hot hatch line-up for buyers who want the GR Corolla experience without the clutch pedal.

The new variant uses an 8-speed GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission (GR-DAT), which UMWT says was developed with motorsports input to deliver quick, decisive shifts while still being easy to live with day to day.

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Pricing in Malaysia

• 2026 GR Corolla (AT): RM378,950 

• GR Corolla (MT): RM368,950

Toyota Malaysia said the AT launch also comes with updates across the entire GR Corolla range, including the existing manual (MT). Both AT and MT variants now get Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), plus a new 10-inch display screen for clearer vehicle information and a more user-friendly driver interface.

What’s new with the GR-DAT Transmission
 Highlights include several drive functions tied to the new automatic setup. There’s a Drive mode aimed at smoother acceleration with intelligent gear selection, a SPORT mode with sharper response and more aggressive shift logic, plus a sequential-style M-mode for more driver involvement.

The launch highlights also lists Launch Start Control, along with refined suspension and ABS tuning intended to improve stability, braking confidence, and cornering performance.

As Toyota’s fourth model in the GR Series, the GR Corolla continues to be positioned as a motorsports-developed road car, with UMWT referencing lessons from Super Taikyu, the Japanese Rally Championship, and testing at Fuji International Speedway shaping the 2026 updates.

Visually, it keeps the same bold, wide-stance look, with functional tweaks aimed at airflow, cooling efficiency, and stability, while sticking to its 5-door hatchback format for everyday practicality.

It is still built around the same headline setup, a 1,618 cc 1.6-litre turbo inline-three (G16E-GTS) making 300 PS at 6,500 rpm and 400 Nm from 3,000 to 5,550 rpm, with RON 97 as the minimum fuel requirement.

Toyota quotes 0–100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and a 230 km/h top speed, so this is not a “warm hatch” story even with the automatic added into the mix.

The difference with the AT is not just convenience. The 8-speed GR-DAT comes with Launch Control and an ATF cooler, while the manual does without both. 

The rest of the car stays true to the GR Corolla brief, GR-FOUR AWD with Normal 60:40, Gravel 50:50, and Track varying from 60:40 to 30:70 depending on what the car is doing.

Grip and braking hardware feels like it belongs on something that sees trackdays, Torsen LSDs front and rear, GR-tuned suspension (MacPherson strut front, double wishbone rear), and ventilated, slotted discs with 4-piston monoblocks up front and 2-piston monoblocks at the rear, sitting on 235/40R18 Yokohama Advan Apex V601 tyres with 18-inch Enkei wheels. The triple exhaust stays, complete with a valve that opens up when the engine is working harder.

Inside, the cabin updates are the kind that'll be nice in day-to-day use, a 10-inch infotainment screen, a 12.3-inch digital cluster, head-up display, dual-zone climate control, USB-C ports and a wireless charger, plus a front and rear DVR.

The 2026 GR Corolla AT and updated GR Corolla MT are now available through selected GR Garage dealerships nationwide, backed by Toyota’s aftersales support and standard quality assurance.

Datuk Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor, said, "Toyota Gazoo Racing pushes every GR car to its limits, and the GR Corolla carries that same intensity on the road. From the very beginning, it has been about delivering the raw feel, response and intensity of a race-bred machine. With the introduction of the GR Corolla AT, that experience is now more accessible, without compromising its GR character. It remains a car that excites, builds confidence and rewards the driver, allowing more Malaysians to experience authentic GR performance behind the wheel.”

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