Not Your Average SUV: Inside The GR Corolla Cross Racecar

Meet the Toyota Gazoo Racing Corolla Cross racecar, a machine built specifically for Brazil’s Stock Car Pro Series championship. This isn’t just a beefed-up SUV.

The GR Corolla Cross has shed all traces of its SUV heritage. The body is a wild mix of carbon fiber, aramid, fiberglass, and Kevlar, complete with flared fenders, aggressive cooling intakes, and enough aerodynamic features to make even an F1 engineer take notice.

The massive rear wing, along with a large diffuser and prominent front splitter, creates enough downforce. Despite its resemblance to a showroom-bound Corolla Cross, don't let it fool you. The only stock parts on this beast are the taillights and the Toyota badge. A striking Gazoo Racing livery, featuring bold red and white graphics that stand out against a sleek black base, brings the racecar's design to life.

Inside, it’s all business. A monitor, a full roll cage, and custom switches on the dashboard equip the stripped-down cabin. There’s even a 360-degree interior camera, giving viewers a live look at the action during broadcasts. The GR Corolla Cross won’t be racing alone; it’ll face off against other SUV-turned-racecar contenders like the Chevrolet Tracker and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. All three share the same Audace SNG01 platform, which, interestingly, has nothing in common with the production models you see at dealerships.

Under the hood, we’ll find a turbocharged 2.1-liter engine that cranks out about 500 hp when running on Podium gasoline. This power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed XTrac sequential gearbox. The racecar is equipped with a pushrod suspension featuring adjustable Penske Racing shocks, ensuring it handles the track with precision. Stopping power comes from Hipper Freios brake rotors, paired with Cobreq pads and AP Racing calipers.

This new Corolla Cross is lighter, faster, and more technologically advanced than the Corolla sedan it’s replacing. In 2025, Toyota Gazoo Racing will debut the latest version of this stock car, aiming for even more victories.