The All-New GR Corolla World Premiere April 1, 2022

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

Oh im aware, i was more thinking it corrolated somewhat with how they'll decide to price it.

Unlike something like the LFA, where they lost money with every car they sold (which would indicate price was never going to be a factor for that car).

Would the GR Corolla be sold at a loss and are they willing to just sell it at a loss? (obviously they'd be able to make up the losses just by selling the regular corolla), is it something they could sell at a competitive price and still break even? or is there some semblance of profit available?

They may make a tiny amount on each one. Like any loss leader it really isn't the mission though.
Even the most run of the mill appliance cars made now are only a 5% to 10% margin so they do not have massive profits in them as individual units. The companies make their money through volume, volume and more volume.
Think of it this way. Toyota sold over 10 million cars in 2019 (let's forget 2020 & 21) and plan on selling 12 million in 2023. Do you think that selling 3,000 GR Corollas in 2023 is going to impact their profitability in any way? Even with a huge margin those 3,000 cars would not cause a perceivable blip on their radar. Their daily corporate toilet paper budget probably has a bigger impact than those 3,000 cars would. Now, if they were making 300,000 of them it would be a different story.
Of course some of the luxury and supercar companies do make a higher profit with a lower volume but they are the exception not the rule.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Plus, it allows them to utilize a drivetrain they developed, so it'll help recoup some of that R&D cost. Also, it lets them add a little more to the sale of the "Corolla" nameplate (it's the most sold car in the world, right?).

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

Plus, it allows them to utilize a drivetrain they developed, so it'll help recoup some of that R&D cost. Also, it lets them add a little more to the sale of the "Corolla" nameplate (it's the most sold car in the world, right?).

Over 50 million of the things!

Doubt they will do much more with the drivetrain. It is probably their performance ICE swansong I am afraid.

[WolfpackS2k]

Agreed, hard to think otherwise. Which will only drive up demand for this vehicle more.

Though I could see them using this drivetrain (the 1.6T + AWD) on another generation of this vehicle (Corolla...or Yaris). But after that, seems highly unlikely.

[Yoshoobaroo]

I could see them using this drivetrain with an electric motor after they drop the displacement some more.

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

I could see them using this drivetrain with an electric motor after they drop the displacement some more.

https://www.racecar-engineering.com/...y1-hybrid-wrc/

They've already paired it with an electric motor in their new Rally car so it could find its way to production sooner than later.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

I could see them using this drivetrain with an electric motor after they drop the displacement some more.

What would be the point? You do not need a high HP engine and electric motors if going hybrid at the consumer level. If all electric well... It is all electric.

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

What would be the point? You do not need a high HP engine and electric motors if going hybrid at the consumer level. If all electric well... It is all electric.

You could have the engine run a much more efficient cycle like Atkinson, drop the ICE power to ~200hp and add the electric motor to still get your 300hp hot hatch, but you can still sell it past 2025/30/35 because it’s a hybrid.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

You could have the engine run a much more efficient cycle like Atkinson, drop the ICE power to ~200hp and add the electric motor to still get your 300hp hot hatch, but you can still sell it past 2025/30/35 because it’s a hybrid.

They want full electric by 2035 so that doesn't leave a real long run for the ICE combo anyway. It just isn't a direction I can see them go in for long.
The fun part is that they probably have it fully planned out to end of life but we have to wait and see how.

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

They want full electric by 2035 so that doesn't leave a real long run for the ICE combo anyway. It just isn't a direction I can see them go in for long.
The fun part is that they probably have it fully planned out to end of life but we have to wait and see how.

Yea the definitely do have several planned options already. They just need to see what sells and execute accordingly. I think modularity is going to be key in the next 10 years. You need to be able to transition to full EV as close to how fast the customer base is comfortable with. I can see manufacturers install hybrid and BEV powertrains on the same chassis going forward.

[TylerLieberman]

Super limited production on a car that everybody wants in a segment with almost no competition since there’s no STI or Focus RS. Dealers are gonna mark these cars up to the moon and hipster IG/YouTube kids are gonna pay out the ass for them just to slam them on bags and Rotiforms.

This is like when these stupid lifestyle brands artificially drive demand sky high by announcing a drop of their “sick new merch” only to deliberately be short on supplies by like 3,000% lol

While the car obviously shouldn’t be expected to be produced at the same rate as a standard Corolla, the idea of the numbers being THAT low is pretty disappointing. I was genuinely interested and gonna put my name on a list but nobody near me can guarantee no markup, and pretty much all the dealers around here have lists of people in line.

Hopefully the car sells very well and in a fashion that Toyota continues to make them.

[WolfpackS2k]

I think part of the supply restriction (well, besides the whole "supply chain" disaster that's ongoing) is this car is made in their special factory and has an extra step of additional chassis welds and adhesive application. Might not be much of a factor, but it definitely is a factor.

As soon as pricing comes out I'll need to make a decision. Hoping for the Circuit but if its priced too high I might have to back down to a Core + Perf & Cold Weather Packages.

[fredzy]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Super limited production on a car that everybody wants in a segment with almost no competition since there’s no STI or Focus RS. Dealers are gonna mark these cars up to the moon and hipster IG/YouTube kids are gonna pay out the ass for them just to slam them on bags and Rotiforms.

This is like when these stupid lifestyle brands artificially drive demand sky high by announcing a drop of their “sick new merch” only to deliberately be short on supplies by like 3,000% lol

While the car obviously shouldn’t be expected to be produced at the same rate as a standard Corolla, the idea of the numbers being THAT low is pretty disappointing. I was genuinely interested and gonna put my name on a list but nobody near me can guarantee no markup, and pretty much all the dealers around here have lists of people in line.

Hopefully the car sells very well and in a fashion that Toyota continues to make them.

I would hope that the success of this thing makes way for higher volume/slightly less special versions for years to come. A WRX to this STI. Hard to say with the dark clouds of electrification looming. I feel dumb saying that as someone who is totally pro-EV. But I've accepted my reality: there is no substitute a noisy stick-shift gas burner funtimes car in my world. Here's hoping OEMs find a way to keep our tiny tiny niche supplied long into the future.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

I think part of the supply restriction (well, besides the whole "supply chain" disaster that's ongoing) is this car is made in their special factory and has an extra step of additional chassis welds and adhesive application. Might not be much of a factor, but it definitely is a factor.

As soon as pricing comes out I'll need to make a decision. Hoping for the Circuit but if its priced too high I might have to back down to a Core + Perf & Cold Weather Packages.

It is not really a "restriction" they have planned for a limited run. Not at all unusual to do so I am not sure why people think they were ever going to do base model build numbers. The extra welds and adhesive probably add about 2 minutes to the build time and have no impact on volumes.
If you haven't already got your name on one you are probably shit outta luck no matter what the pricing is. Even then the list price is going to be meaningless. There is zero doubt about that.