Yokohama Advan Apex to outfit 2023 Toyota GR Corolla

HIRATSUKA, Japan — Toyota Motor Corp. has selected a version of Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.'s Advan Apex high-performance tire range as an original equipment fitment on the 2023 GR Corolla, a high-performance "quasi-competition" version of the car maker's four-door compact hatchback.

Toyota is fitting the limited-edition GR Corolla, which went on sale in Japan recently, with the Advan Apex V601 in size 235/40R18 91W. YRC describes the Apex V601 as a high-performance summer tire that features an asymmetric tread pattern reminiscent of that first used a few decades ago on the company's A008 ultra-high-performance tire.

The all-wheel-drive GR Corolla — described as "factory-bred tuner car"prepped by Toyota's in-house Gazoo racing unit — features a widened body kit and turbocharged 1.6-liter, three-cylinder, 300-hp engine mated with a six-speed manual transmission. The powertrain allows the driver a choice of front/rear power distribution biases — 60/40, 50/50 and 70/30 — to best suit road conditions.

Every 2023 GR Corolla sold in the U.S. comes with a one-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association (NASA), according to Toyoto Motor U.S.A. As part of this membership, GR Corolla owners will enjoy a host of benefits, including one High-Performance Driving Experience (HPDE),  during which GR Corolla owners will receive one-on-one driving instruction from a NASA professional driver, and discounted admission to NASA-sanctioned events.