This hybrid Toyota Corolla Altis with a racing spirit is as striking as it’s efficient

MANILA, Philippines — When the Toyota Corolla Altis first launched in the Philippines, the motoring scene was abuzz, dubbing the compact sedan as a “sneak peek into the future.”

This future is now as the 2022 iteration of the Toyota Corolla Altis carries both the HEV and GR-S badges, which makes it a hybrid electric vehicle with the Gazoo Racing Spirit.

But what does this actually entail?

Here, we drill down the exciting features of the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV that make it as striking as it’s efficient.

When the Toyota Corolla Altis was introduced in the Philippine market 16 years ago, it became a reliable daily driver for countless Filipinos because of its practical features and design.

The same is true today especially with the HEV variant, which is powered by an efficient gasoline engine and a high-output, self-charging electric motor. These engines are seamlessly combined giving its user maximum fuel mileage.

More under the hood, it carries a continuously variable transmission (CVT), 16-valve DOHC, 4-cylinder, in-line, chain drive with VVT-i engine.

So whether city driving for work and errands, or traveling out of town, you’re guaranteed an overall impressive drive.

RELATED STORY: What's in a Toyota HEV? Guide to understanding hybrid electrified vehicles

Then and now, the Toyota Corolla Altis always makes waves in the looks department.

In 2008, The Philippine STAR motoring columnist Dong Magsajo described the first-ever Corolla Altis and wrote, “With zero doubts we’ll say this much: it looks much, much better than the current variant that still manages to fly out of Toyota showrooms...”

As the years went by, the Corolla became sleeker, and now, sportier thanks to its GR-S enhancements. If you don’t know yet, Toyota models with the GR-S badge replicate the feel of performance Gazoo Racing cars.

As such, the Corolla Altis GR-S HEV sports a more aggressive look than past Corolla Altis. Its front bumper is edgier and bigger, featuring a catchy black grille. At the back, the ducktail spoiler adds to the sporty vibe. The model also comes with full LED headlights.

Other GR-S features on the exterior include the GR-S rear bumper with diffuser, and darker,