No sign of FL5 Honda Civic Type R yet but is that a Toyota GR Corolla? UMWT to launch 5 models in Malaysia next week

• Toyota to launch 5 GR / GR Sport models in Malaysia on 17-February
• Toyota GR Corolla and Toyota GR86 are confirmed
• Toyota GR Supra is also hinted, likely to be the new 6MT variant
• Silhouette of Toyota Hilux and Toyota Corolla Cross also shown, likely to be dressed up GR Sport variants

While we wait for Honda Malaysia to make an announcement on the launch of the FL5 Honda Civic Type R, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has jumped ahead to announce that it will be launching 5 new GR / GR Sport models next week.

The company has posted a teaser image with the caption “The Beasts Awaken. Coming Soon. February 17.”

The silhouette of 5 vehicles are shown, with no description on the models but outline of the respective cars’ headlight signature makes it easy to guess.

The first car on the left is clearly a Toyota GR Supra. The model is not new in Malaysia but globally, there’s a new variant with a 6-speed manual transmission. The updated B58 3.0-litre straight-six turbocharged engine now makes 387 PS / 500 Nm.

Next is a hatchback, and it’s clearly a Toyota Corolla Sport, specifically the all-wheel drive Toyota GR Corolla. The GR Corolla is powered by the same G16E-GTS 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine from the GR Yaris, but fettled to make 304 PS / 370 Nm.

Like the GR Yaris, this is a 6-speed manual transmission-only car. So you have to be a genuinely committed driver to want one. But we have a nagging feeling that there are more than enough pre-orders sitting at Toyota GR dealers that every single unit allocated for Malaysia will be sold out the moment it goes on sale.

The last car on the right is of course the eagerly awaited Toyota GR86. The latest generation of the Toyobaru sports car twins, the second generation 86 is now more refined (Keiichi Tsuchiya calls it Lexus 86), but has lost none of the previous car’s driving engagement.

Now a 2.4-litre that makes 235 PS / 250 Nm (still naturally aspirated), prices will of course be higher than the previous 2.0-litre model.

Its Subaru twin, the Subaru BRZ is currently on sale in Malaysia for RM 249k for the 6-speed manual variant.

The final two models are GR Sport variants of the Toyota Hilux and Toyota Corolla Cross. The GR Sport range is accessorized version of regular models but historically, GR Sport models sold in Malaysia (Vios GR Sport) feature chassis improvements so it’s more than just being a dressed up car, but we still don’t know if these handling-improving upgrades will be extended to the Hilux GR Sport and Corolla Cross GR Sport.

Also read: Spied: After the Vios, Toyota Corolla Cross is next to receive GR Sport treatment?

Expect dark chrome or blacked out elements to replace the standard car’s chrome bits, and GR Sport styling elements inside and outside the car.