Toyota once offered the GR Corolla with a six-speed manual transmission. To attract a broader range of buyers, the automaker is introducing a fast-shifting eight-speed automatic and adding more standard handling upgrades to this hot hatch.

The 2025 GR Corolla tempts enthusiast ire with a new automatic gearbox option, but Toyota won't let stick shift zealots set the agenda.

As unlikely as it may seem in an era when cars are by and large getting heavier, more expensive, and less engaging, enthusiasts are currently spoiled for choice when it comes to rowdy and relatively affordable performance cars.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Toyota has created an eight-speed automatic to rival the best dual-clutches. T oyota’s essence can be distilled into one Japanese word: Kaizen. It esse

Toyota’s GR Corolla made a big splash when it debuted in 2022, and rightfully so. Of course enthusiasts were excited: The aggressive upstart came standard with 300 turbocharged horsepower, a manual transmission sending power to a trick all-wheel-drive system,

Today, we’re talking about the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla. The 2025 Toyota GR Corolla joins the group by way of an optional Gazoo Racing–tuned eight-speed automatic transmission. Although expected to only account for about 20 percent of GR Corolla sales—a six-speed stick remains standard—the automatic should help steal some sales away from the dual-clutch–equipped Volkswagen Golf R,