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Editor’s Note: This is the repeat of one of our most popular episodes in 2023. It originally aired on Saturday, November 25, 2023. Jack and Chris will be back with an all-new episode on January 6, 2024. Happy New Year to you!
In this era of crossover vehicles and electric-powered appliance cars, fewer and fewer models on the road get an enthusiast’s blood boiling. But one vehicle that does just that is the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla Morizo edition. First off, it serves up 300 horsepower from its highly sophisticated turbocharged three-cylinder engine. In a vehicle the size and weight of a Corolla, that is a heady way to begin. But that’s just the start of what the Morizo edition provides. As Host Jack Nerad discovered during his week test driving the GR Corolla, the Morizo Edition’s close gear ratio transmission, shorter differential gears, forged wheels, stiffened chassis, front brake ducts, mono-tube shock absorbers, and Ultrasuede seats make a great car even greater. While turning the GR Corolla into a two-seater takes the edge off versatility, it does show Gazoo Racing is serious about lightweighting the car. Torque is a stout 295 pound-feet, giving the Morizo Edition gratifying acceleration.
In this episode of America on the Road, Nerad will give more detail on the GR Corolla and describe his experiences in the car. Happily, its straightline acceleration is matched by its ability to corner, an ability that has been enhanced by a stiffer body, upgraded suspension, and stickier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
In our other road test this week, Co-Host Chris Teague gets in the driver’s seat of the 2024 Toyota Prius. While it is hardly the equal of the GR Corolla, it is now a fun-to-drive small car in its own right. With nearly 200 horsepower on tap and the added benefits of electric-motor torque, the current Prius is the most fun-to-drive version ever. If that sounds like the automotive version of the world’s tallest midget, you’ll just have to listen to Teague’s report to hear how good the new generation Prius really is.
Topping the news segment this week, the Los Angeles Auto Show is finishing its run, and we will bring you the most important news from that international show. Hyundai, Honda, Kia, and Lucid showed very interesting vehicles in Los Angeles, and we’ll give you details. Hyundai unmasked an all-new Santa Fe SUV and announced that it would begin selling cars through Amazon next year. Honda previewed an old performance coupe favorite, and Kia displayed a couple of battery-electric concept cars. Meanwhile, Lucid Motors might have stolen the show with its impressive three-row Gravity SUV.
And there is drama at General Motors as the two top executives of the company’s Cruise self-driving effort exit the company in the wake of safety issues that are dogging it. We’ll have details and commentary on that Byzantine tale in this show.
Our very special guest this week is Steve Center, Chief Operating Officer of Kia America. We had the opportunity to sit down with him to discuss the many challenges and opportunities the brand faces as the market landscape shifts. Center is one of the smartest guys in the car industry, and we’re certain you’ll enjoy what he has to say.
America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com
