Latest news with #MattHarrison
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Iconic hot hatchback with four-wheel drive FINALLY coming to UK after being sold for years outside of Europe
BETTER LATE Iconic hot hatchback with four-wheel drive FINALLY coming to UK after being sold for years outside of Europe Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HUGE Japanese car firm has hinted that it is finally bringing its rally-bred hot hatch to the UK. The long anticipated Toyota GR Corolla is expected to join the much loved GR Yaris on UK roads in the next 18-months. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The new GR Corolla boasts a turbocharged 1.6 litre engine Credit: Toyota USA 4 A four-wheel drive system ensures every bit of power is used effectively Credit: Carsite With an impressive 296bhp the Corolla will enter production at Toyota's UK plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire. The motor is expected to go into production next year in a bid to satisfy lengthy waiting lists. However at present the nippy hot hatch is only built at one site in Japan with it yet to be confirmed for the European market. Toyota's European COO Matt Harrison has hinted that British fans won't be disappointed though. He spoke to Auto Express to say: 'We have a philosophy that you build where you sell, so to build in Europe and not sell in Europe would be counter to that. 'The gap between supply and demand is now, so it's about how quickly we can get it. We need to act fast.' Originally launched in 2022 the GR Corolla was only sold in selected markets outside of Europe. It boasts a minimal 1.6 litre engine but a turbo charger offers the car a healthy boost in power. With its impressive 296bhp Toyota's answer to the Golf R comes close to matching the massive 315bhp offered by the 2 litre German model. And the Toyota uses its power well, a four-wheel drive system ensures the motor uses the most of the horsepower available to it. The souped-up Toyota Corolla GR Full specs and pricing for the new Corolla are expected to be released some time next year. Until then experts are estimating the motor will be priced around the £40,000 mark. The Burnaston site was chosen as a site for manufacturing the GR Corolla because of its factory capacity. Initial demand for the motor is expected to be relatively high and the UK site can offer the capacity to meet the demand. 4 The motor is only available in selected global markets but could soon come to the UK Credit: Toyota USA 4 The GR Corolla has been hotly anticipated Credit: Toyota USA Not only this but the UK motorsport pedigree aligns well with the specialist nature of the hot hatch. The rally bred motor offers a specific package of specifications to motorists. It was reported earlier this year that the Japanese firm planned to invest £41 million into the Burnaston production site. The investment could see production rates at the site significantly boosted to meet the expected demand for the new GR Corolla.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Iconic hot hatchback with four-wheel drive FINALLY coming to UK after being sold for years outside of Europe
A HUGE Japanese car firm has hinted that it is finally bringing its rally-bred hot hatch to the UK. The long anticipated Toyota GR Corolla is expected to join the much loved GR Yaris on UK roads in the next 18-months. 4 4 With an impressive 296bhp the Corolla will enter production at Toyota's UK plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire. The motor is expected to go into production next year in a bid to satisfy lengthy waiting lists. However at present the nippy hot hatch is only built at one site in Japan with it yet to be confirmed for the European market. Toyota's European COO Matt Harrison has hinted that British fans won't be disappointed though. He spoke to Auto Express to say: 'We have a philosophy that you build where you sell, so to build in Europe and not sell in Europe would be counter to that. 'The gap between supply and demand is now, so it's about how quickly we can get it. We need to act fast.' Originally launched in 2022 the GR Corolla was only sold in selected markets outside of Europe. It boasts a minimal 1.6 litre engine but a turbo charger offers the car a healthy boost in power. With its impressive 296bhp Toyota's answer to the Golf R comes close to matching the massive 315bhp offered by the 2 litre German model. And the Toyota uses its power well, a four-wheel drive system ensures the motor uses the most of the horsepower available to it. The souped-up Toyota Corolla GR Full specs and pricing for the new Corolla are expected to be released some time next year. Until then experts are estimating the motor will be priced around the £40,000 mark. The Burnaston site was chosen as a site for manufacturing the GR Corolla because of its factory capacity. Initial demand for the motor is expected to be relatively high and the UK site can offer the capacity to meet the demand. 4 4 Not only this but the UK motorsport pedigree aligns well with the specialist nature of the hot hatch. The rally bred motor offers a specific package of specifications to motorists. It was reported earlier this year that the Japanese firm planned to invest £41 million into the Burnaston production site. The investment could see production rates at the site significantly boosted to meet the expected demand for the new GR Corolla. World's largest car maker hatching plans to invest £40million in a new assembly line in UK The world's largest car maker is planning to invest a whopping £40million for a new assembly line in the UK. The Toyota plant at Burnaston could be in line for a major investment, as the company weighs moving production for the US market from Japan to Derbyshire. The car maker plans to invest around £41million to set up a new production line dedicated to making GR Corollas, according to Reuters. Toyota has denied that Trump tariffs are behind the potential shift, despite taxes on Britain being 10 per cent compared to Japan's 25 per cent. In light of the potential move, Japanese automaker Toyota revealed that new cars could be added to the European market. Currently, the GR Corolla is only available in Japan and is exported to North America and select other markets. Burnaston plant currently produces the Corolla hatchback and estate for the UK and European markets, but production rates could significantly improve with the proposed investment. A new production line could be operational within 12 months, with reports suggesting that Japanese engineers may temporarily relocate to Derbyshire to assist with the transition.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Iconic hot hatchback with four-wheel drive FINALLY coming to UK after being sold for years outside of Europe
A HUGE Japanese car firm has hinted that it is finally bringing its rally-bred hot hatch to the UK. The long anticipated 4 The new GR Corolla boasts a turbocharged 1.6 litre engine Credit: Toyota USA 4 A four-wheel drive system ensures every bit of power is used effectively Credit: Carsite With an impressive 296bhp the Corolla will enter production at Toyota's UK plant in The motor is expected to go into production next year in a bid to satisfy lengthy waiting lists. However at present the nippy hot hatch is only built at one site in Japan with it yet to be confirmed for the Toyota's European COO Matt Harrison has hinted that British fans won't be disappointed though. Read more in Motors He spoke to 'The gap between supply and demand is now, so it's about how quickly we can get it. We need to act fast.' Originally launched in 2022 the It boasts a minimal 1.6 litre engine but a turbo charger offers the car a healthy boost in power. Most read in Motors With its impressive 296bhp Toyota's answer to the And the Toyota uses its power well, a four-wheel drive system ensures the motor uses the most of the horsepower available to it. The souped-up Toyota Corolla GR Full specs and pricing for the new Corolla are expected to be released some time next year. Until then experts are estimating the The Burnaston site was chosen as a site for manufacturing the Initial demand for the motor is expected to be relatively high and the UK site can offer the capacity to meet the demand. 4 The motor is only available in selected global markets but could soon come to the UK Credit: Toyota USA 4 The GR Corolla has been hotly anticipated Credit: Toyota USA Not only this but the UK The rally bred motor offers a specific package of specifications to motorists. It was reported earlier this year that the The investment could see production rates at the site significantly boosted to meet the expected demand for the new World's largest car maker hatching plans to invest £40million in a new assembly line in UK The world's largest car maker is planning to invest a whopping £40million for a The Toyota plant at could be in line for a major investment, as the company weighs moving production for the US market from Japan to . The car maker plans to invest around £41million to set up a new production line dedicated to making GR Corollas, according to Reuters. Toyota has denied that Trump tariffs are behind the potential shift, despite taxes on Britain being 10 per cent compared to Japan's 25 per cent. In light of the potential move, Japanese automaker Toyota revealed that new cars could be added to the European market. Currently, the GR Corolla is only available in Japan and is exported to North America and select other markets. Burnaston plant currently produces the Corolla hatchback and estate for the UK and European markets, but production rates could significantly improve with the proposed investment. A new production line could be operational within 12 months, with reports suggesting that Japanese engineers may temporarily relocate to Derbyshire to assist with the transition.
Metro
6 days ago
- Metro
'Bonkers' UK bus is 'world's rarest' and runs on the fifth Saturday of the month
If you live in Devon and fancy a day by the seaside, there's a handy bus service that can take you to the coast. But be sure to get to the bus stop on time — if you miss it, there won't be another one for nine months. The 112 bus from Tavistock to Dawlish only runs from April to September, on every fifth Saturday, when there is one in the month. The unusual schedule means that there are only two return journeys per year. You've already missed the first for 2026, which was on May 31, but there is a second on the timetable for August 30. The 16-seat mini bus departs from Tavistock at 9:05am, returning from Dawlish at 3:30pm, making 25 stops in total. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Unsurprisingly, the quirky 112, which has been dubbed the 'rarest bus in the world' by the Telegraph, has become somewhat of a tourist attraction, so seats on the bus fill up quickly. However, half of the seats are available to be pre-booked online, while the others are first come, first serve. The service, run by Tavistock Country Bus, is powered completely by volunteers — which may explain why its so infrequent. The famous route is also one of the UK's most beautiful. The two hour journey passes through Dartmoor National Park, with stops in Princetown, home to the notorious HMP Dartmoor, and Ashburton, a market town recorded in the Domesday Book. More Trending You can also alight at Two Bridges, and visit one of the UK's rainforests, which is supposedly haunted by a 'ghost dog'. If none of these places take your fancy though, the 112 operates a 'hail and ride' system, meaning the bus will stop anywhere on the route, as long as its safe to do so. Blogger, Roger French, who writes about his journeys on the UK's public transport network, rode the 112 in May this year. He called it 'a fabulous ride and a true quirky experience,' adding that, if you want to claim your spot on the bus, you need to be prepared. 'When I checked, there's at least four names on the waiting list in case a cancellation comes up,' he said. Meanwhile, writer Matt Harrison, completed a Year of Buses series back in 2019, in which he catalogued 365 bus routes around the UK. He called the 112 'an eccentric and completely bonkers set-up' The UK's cheapest train ticket costs just 10p, but it doesn't really get you anywhere. A 'Platform Ticket' grants you access to the station platform for 60 minutes after being issued. They're not valid on trains and are only good for the station where they were issued. Flixbus has launched a new route connecting London and Brighton for as little as £4.49. The twice-daily FlixBus service, which welcomed its first passengers on June 13, does take a little longer than the train at around 2 hours and 25 minutes, but is considerably cheaper than most train fares to the seaside. The stretch of railway between Settle, North Yorkshire, and Carlisle in Cumbria claimed the number one spot on Lonely Planet's list of the most scenic train rides in Europe. The journey through the Yorkshire Dales passes the Ribblehead Viaduct and stops at several charming countryside stations. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I flew 6,000 miles to meet a stranger for a date MORE: Interactive map shows where Windrush passengers settled across the UK MORE: 'Just gorgeous': Your favourite European islands that aren't in Greece
The Drive
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
You're Welcome, Europe: US Demand for Toyota GR Corolla Could Bring It Overseas
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Dear Europe: You're welcome. After years of importing your best performance cars, we're finally returning the favor from the other side of the pond—indirectly, anyway. Because while Toyota doesn't build the GR Corolla in North America, our demand for it has been so overwhelming that the company has decided to add another production line in the U.K., predominantly for American export, to supplement the hot hatches Toyota churns out of its Motomachi plant in Japan. At first, it seemed like these U.K.-built cars wouldn't be offered for local sale, which would've been a grave injustice. But now, a Toyota executive has hinted that might not be the case. 'We have a philosophy that you build where you sell, so to build in Europe and not sell in Europe would be counter to that,' Toyota Europe COO Matt Harrison told Auto Express last week. 'The gap between supply and demand is now, so it's about how quickly we can get it. We need to act fast.' That's about as big a confirmation as you'll ever hear anyone with the letter 'C' in their job title drop, without it counting as a done deal. It's also the first time Toyota has officially indicated it would like to bring the hot hatch to the continent, where, let's be honest, rallying is given the respect it deserves. The Celica GT-Four and Corolla WRC are the reason why the GR Yaris exists, and the GR Corolla happened because Toyota didn't want those of us who don't get a Yaris of any flavor to miss out entirely. The interior of a 2024 Toyota GR Corolla. Nico DeMattia The GR Yaris is undeniably cool, but it's also very tiny. I'll admit that when I first learned Toyota was planning to sell a GR version of the Corolla stateside, I was disappointed. Of course, America gets the bigger, heavier version of the same car without the direct link to a WRC contender. But I came around and, having lived with mine for roughly a year and a half now, I don't know how I could've made the Yaris work anyway. The GR Corolla has a somewhat cramped interior as it is, so I can't begin to imagine the games of grocery store Tetris that Yaris owners have to play from time to time. Plus, it's still a riot. We've reached out to Toyota Europe personnel for a bit more insight into Harrison's comment, and will update this story with whatever we learn. In the meantime, Europe, I hope you enjoy the hot hatch it sounds like you'll be getting. I think you will. Got a tip? Email us at tips@
