This Is What Makes The GR Corolla Morizo Edition So Special

What is a hot hatch? This question was much easier before hatches got caught up in the same horsepower war as German saloons like the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63.

Before the second-generation Focus RS came along, the recipe was pretty straightforward. You take a basic five-door hatch and bolt a turbo under the hood. You then drop the suspension, give it bigger brakes, an angry body kit, and presto. Quick, relatively comfortable, practical, and, most importantly, affordable. For decades, the Volkswagen GTI has been all things to all men, while the Honda Civic Type R satiated the needs of those who wanted something a bit feistier.

But along came the Focus RS and its 2.5-liter, and a year later, Audi launched the first five-pot RS3. Following that, Mercedes-AMG introduced what many consider to be the first hyper hatch, the A45 AMG.

That's when things started to go a bit sideways. The A45's 2.0-liter engine was a masterpiece, but the rest of the car was a bit rubbish. You could tell Mercedes lacked hot hatch experience.

The second-gen car 45 models were masterpieces, but they cost too much. The Civic Type R and Golf R are on the verge of being expensive. The only hot hatches that subscribe to the original recipe are the current Golf GTI and Hyundai Veloster N.

Toyota might soon join the club if it manages to import the GR Corolla at a reasonable price. And we do not doubt that it will set the new standard in the segment because we've been fortunate enough to drive the GR Yaris. Toyota's Gazoo Racing department gets it. They know how to build a fun car.

We have Akio Toyoda to thank for that. In 2017 he promised that Toyota would no longer produce boring cars. It didn't strictly stick to the promise, as you can still buy a Corolla Cross. Good car, but as dull as a thesis on rocks found in the Sahara Desert.

Still, there are some pretty epic Toyotas like the GR86, GR Supra, and the rumored hardcore Camry. Let's not forget about Toyota's continued commitment to the manual.

You can thank Toyota's CEO for all of that. You can also thank him for the GR Corolla Morizo Edition; a GR Corolla built to his exact specification. He knows what a hot hatch needs to be, even if he forgot about the practicality part.

Check out the video for more info on this epic upcoming hatch.