This Toyota Corolla iM drift car is a 1,000-hp Frankenstein’s monster

By Stephen Edelstein March 28, 2017

A standard Toyota Corolla doesn’t exactly get the pulse racing. But this isn’t a standard Toyota Corolla.

For the 2017 Formula Drift season, Papadakis Racing decided to think outside the box. So it took a humble Toyota Corolla iM hatchback, converted it from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive, and installed a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and nitrous-oxide system capable of producing 1,000 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque. Yup, this is definitely not your grandmother’s Corolla.

Papadakis Racing has plenty of experience converting unassuming street cars into drift monsters. It previously campaigned a series of Scion tC coupes in Formula Drift, and even built a crazy Volkswagen Passat drift car for series competitor and former Top Gear USA host Tanner Foust. Like the Corolla iM, all of these cars were converted from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive, and given steroidal power boosts.

Why rear-wheel drive? Drifting is all about controlled sliding, which means cars need to break traction at their back tires and oversteer, which is not something front-wheel drive cars are capable of doing. In addition to the rear-wheel drive conversion and souped-up engine, Papadakis Racing installed a four-speed dog-clutch transmission in the Corolla iM, made modifications to the bodywork, and added necessary safety equipment.

Given the team’s previous association with Scion, choosing a Corolla iM as a drift car was actually a somewhat predictable step. The Corolla iM was sold as the Scion iM before Toyota killed the Scion brand last year. Now that it wears the Corolla name, the iM is also a nice homage to one of the most legendary drift-car platforms of all: the rear-wheel drive 1980s Toyota Corolla AE86. Loved by tuners for its affordability and performance potential, it also starred in the manga Initial D.

The popularity of the AE86 is why Toyota calls its current rear-wheel drive sports car (the former Scion FR-S) the 86. That car is the more obvious choice for drifting, but there’s something hilarious about a five-door hatchback careening sideways in a cloud of tire smoke that makes us glad Papadakis Racing didn’t take the obvious route.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Will the R2 be a better buy?

Side of the Rivian R2

The Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it could end up being the go-to EV for drivers who want a decently affordable electric car with a rugged look and feel. But when it finally launches to the public, it won't be the only option in its price range -- the Ford Mustang Mach-E could be one of its main competitors.

The Mustang Mach-E may not be quite as rugged-feeling as the Rivian R2, but it does have a lot going for it -- like an increasingly low price, sleek design, and comfortable interior. Is one of these EVs better than the other? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to note about the two cars is their design, as they’re pretty different. The Rivian R2 is built to be a little more rugged and outdoorsy, while the Mach-E instead has a sleeker and sportier look to it. Both cars look stylish and modern.

Cars

2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan gets new face, bigger battery

2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan front-quarter view.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan arrived during the 2022 model year as the flagship of Mercedes' EV fleet. But now that it's been on sale for a few years, it's time for this flagship to get a refit so that it can stay competitive with other six-figure electric sedans like the BMW i7, Lucid Air, and Tesla Model S. The updated EQS sedan is scheduled to reach dealerships later this year as a 2025 model.

One of the most controversial features of the EQS has been its unorthodox streamlined shape, which makes the EQS one of the most aerodynamic sedans around, but also means it doesn't look much like a traditional Mercedes. For 2025, the EQS takes a step closer to that traditional look with a new grille featuring chrome bars like on the Mercedes S-Class. It also sports the brand's trademark hood ornament.

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.