That's right; in June,
you saw the all-new Toyota Corolla in hatchback form which debuted at the Geneva International Motor Show; in September,
the all-new Corolla was revealed as a wagon at the Paris Motor Show; yesterday, on November 16 at the
Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, the
all-new Corolla was finally revealed in the form the Philippine market--and the world--has known and loved for decades--as a
four-door compact sedan.
The all-new, 12th-generation Toyota Corolla makes use of the Japanese carmaker's
GA-C platform, which it shares with the current-generation Prius, the Toyota C-HR. and the Lexus UX. According to Toyota, the new platform
offers improved performance characterized by
smooth driving,
ride comfort,
quietness, and
safety--qualities that were developed by testing the Corolla in
five continents and over a
total of one million kilometers of driving.
For its exterior, the Corolla sedan has Toyota's
Under Priority Catamaran design philosophy, but with a slightly different execution with the front fenders and bumper compared to the hatchback and wagon though all three have the
same projecting lower grille--supposedly a
common design theme of the
new Corolla family. Further differentiating the Corolla sedan to the other two body styles are the design of the slim upper grille and the unique signature of the headlight's LED strips.
The Corolla's rear mimics the front with the shape of the bumper and the design of the trunk lid. The chrome trim on the trunk lid, framed by rear lamp clusters that are unique to the sedan, emphasizes the car's wide stance.
Inside, the Corolla sedan has a
premium-quality interior that includes numerous comfort and convenience features such as
wireless phone charging, an eight-inch multimedia touch screen, a seven-inch multi-information display, and a 10-inch heads-up display. It also has the same 2,700 mm wheelbase as the Corolla wagon, giving rear seat passengers ample legroom.
To be sold in
over 150 markets from 2019, the Corolla sedan will be made available with a myriad of engine choices. Europe, for instance, will get a
1.8-liter self-charging hybrid system that puts out
121 hp and a
1.6-liter engine mated to
either a six-speed manual or CVT and produces
130 hp. The US market, on the other hand, retains the
1.8-liter mill of the outgoing model "yet with more horsepower and better fuel efficiency" and gets a
2.0-liter, 169 hp direct-injection powerplant, with transmission choice being either a six-speed manual or CVT as well.
Depending on the market as well, the all-new Toyota Corolla sedan will be offered with the latest
Toyota Safety Sense systems. These include Pre-Collision System that can detect pedestrians in the car's path both in daylight and night-time driving, and also cyclists in daylight, full-range Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with steering assist, Road Sign Assist, Automatic High Beam, and a new Lane Tracing Assist system.
For the Chinese market, the Corolla will be offered as two models: the Levin, which will be the sporty version "with an active, energetic edge," and the Corolla, which has "a striking, high-end appearance."
"We have striven to design new models that are eye-catching, and fun to both ride in and drive. By enhancing not just the fun factors that are unique to cars, but "connectivity" functions to create new value, I wanted to make this new model a car that enriches mobility for customers around the world," said
Yoshiki Konishi, chief engineer of the models. "I believe the Corolla series, with its millions of customers around the world, is a key touchstone model for gauging the success of Toyota's 'making ever-better cars' philosophy carried out through TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture). I am confident that customers will see that Toyota's car-making has changed significantly."
No word yet on when
Toyota Motor Philippines will bring in the all-new Toyota Corolla--much more what body style we'll be getting--though anytime next year would be a safe bet.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGyyfKUx5_k&t=7s
