This 1990s Toyota Corolla Hides A GR Secret, But It's Not What You Think

Americans miss out on the GR Yaris but get the same engine in the larger Toyota Corolla. Europeans miss out on our GR Corolla, but one German tuner has decided to build a GR Corolla of its own, but with a twist. Instead of using a current-generation Corolla, the subject of this GR swap is straight out of the 1990s. Judging by the progress so far, the build is every bit as wild as you’d expect.

More Than A Mere Engine Swap
The work is handled by JP Performance, based in the German city of Dortmund, and it’s no mere engine swap. JP Performance performed a full body swap, in effect retaining the complete mechanical package of the GR Yaris, including the chassis and all-wheel-drive system. A similar, albeit more daring, project took place last decade when the UK's RML Group swapped the body of a Nissan Juke onto the bones of an R35 Nissan GT-R to create the infamous Juke-R. A small production run was even offered to the public in that case.

The Corolla used by JP Performance is an eighth-generation Corolla, or E110 – specifically the hatchback version with round lights that was offered in Europe and some other markets. The original car was even the basis of a Toyota World Rally Championship contender from the 1997 through 1999 seasons, with the likes of Marcus Grönholm and Carlos Sainz having driven it successfully.

JP Performance's Corolla started off as a regular production model, the kind your grandma may have driven. It was in poor condition, so some work was required on its body before it could be planted on top of the GR Yaris’s running gear. Naturally, plenty of modifications were also required. For example, the donor Corolla, a two-door, has a wheelbase of 96.9 inches, while the GR Yaris has a wheelbase of 100.8 inches. The GR Yaris is also wider than the Corolla, necessitating the widened fenders.

Almost Three Times The Power
The combined car has been dubbed the Yarolla by its maker, and considering the original Corolla delivered only 109 hp with its most powerful available engine, a 1.6-liter inline-4, the 276 hp of the GR Yaris should ensure JP Performance’s car is now one of the quickest in the world. Power is sent to all four wheels through the GR Yaris's stock 6-speed manual transmission and Toyota’s all-wheel-drive system. Testing showed the 0-60 mph time to be a little over five seconds.

JP Performance is currently attempting to get the car registered for the road. That means getting it approved by the TÜV, Germany's equivalent of the DMV. JP Performance is unlikely to offer a small production run, like what happened with the Nissan Juke-R. However, if your desire is strong enough – and your pockets deep enough – the company will probably oblige by building another one or selling the one shown here.