In April, Toyota Australia Vice-President for Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley, expressed interest in there being a hot version to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Renault Megane RS, Honda Civic Type R, Ford Focus ST and Hyundai i30 N by 2020.

Speaking to Britain’s Auto Express at the Paris Motor Show earlier this week, former Toyota South Africa Managing Director and now President and CEO of Toyota Europe, Dr Johan van Zyl, said a process is currently under way in identifying suitable models for expansion of the GRMN range, with the Corolla being a strong candidate alongside the incoming Supra.

“Our aspiration is to offer a wide spread of GR vehicles to our customers to bring the excitement to the brand.So as we go along with our product range we will look at every one of the products and say ok what is possible? Does this model suit the GR brand? Can we make some excitement with it,” van Zyl said.

Despite being offered in Europe with a choice of three engines; a 1.2-litre turbo making 85kW and two hybrids displacing 1.8 and 2.0-litres with respective outputs of 90kW and 132kW, van Zyl hinted that the latter stood the biggest chance of possibly receiving the GRMN treatment.

“I think that’s what we are trying to say with the fact we have launched the 2.0-litre hybrid in the Corolla range. We are saying it is possible. We can make a more exciting, sporty hybrid. The technology is there. It’s just the way you tune it,” van Zyl continued.

Initially known as the Auris when it bowed in Geneva back in March before adopting the Corolla nameplate in August, which it already carried in both the United States and Australia, the newcomer is likely to debut in South Africa next year with the sedan following soon after. Don’t however expect the Touring Sports estate to become available at any stage.