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The new Corolla is designed to appeal to a broad range of customers in Toyota's global markets. That said it draws a substantial design influence from the highly competitive European market where customers demand the highest overall quality standards and excellent driving performance and vehicle dynamics. In engineering the new Corolla the design team recognised that all drivers, regardless of age or gender, are sensitive to dynamic, high quality styling that that conveys a sense of luxury.
East meets West
The new Corolla is a product of Toyota's design center in Japan and shares its all-new basic platform with the recently announced Auris hatch. With that platform comes exceptional dynamic performance carefully tuned to European driving conditions and preferences combined with the Japanese penchant for designing outstanding family sedans.
In an extension of the design team's objective of developing a global family sedan that would essentially combine the best of two worlds, Japanese designers moved across to Italy for a four month spell to widen their design outlook for this new global offering from Toyota. They were looking to include style elements that would make the new Corolla stand out, even in the streets of style conscious Italian cities.
During this design field trip the Corolla design team defined one of their priorities as developing an image of solidity and strength for the new Corolla.
This resulted in a 'wide and low' design approach to express excellent vehicle dynamics and stability. This resulted in this new, 10th generation Corolla, having a stance 50mm wider than its predecessor, but with the same overall height. A sleeker form was adopted with an improved relationship between the overall vehicle shape and the wheels and wheel arches with a reduced gap between tyre and wheel arch.
The design team was challenged with achieving a fine balance between aesthetic styling and aerodynamic performance, together with a rigid body structure to provide a quiet, stable, comfortable and efficient package. Excellent fuel economy and low noise are significant attributes aside from the overall dynamic performance.
Wind cheating aerodynamics
Smooth flowing surfaces with tight shut lines ensure a clean flow of air over the bodywork. The height and shape of the front and rear bumpers has been optimised to ensure a smooth flow of air under the vehicle and along the side of the body. The shape of the boot has been optimised to provide a smooth airflow and minimize wind-eddy from the roof.
Underneath the Corolla aerodynamic performance is aided by a flat engine undercover and the efficient design of exposed suspension components. The area around the fuel tank and the rear floor section is smoothed to enhance the flow of air under the vehicle. The wide stance of the Corolla and the use of front and rear wheel spats shields the wheels, particularly at high speed, enhancing straight line stability and steering response.
Measures adopted on the upper surfaces to assist in achieving the best possible aerodynamic performance include a flush mounted windscreen, minimal differences in surface levels in critical areas, particularly around the front of the vehicle and around the headlamps, and the design of the windscreen wipers.
The result of this aerodynamic focus on both the upper and under surfaces of the Corolla is a wind cheating drag coefficient (Cd) of just 0,281.
A choice of ten models
The new Corolla has been designed to appeal to all the senses. It provides a high level of family practicality together with comfort, driving pleasure, high quality of finish and generous equipment levels.
This new 4-door sedan from Toyota is offered with a choice of four engines, each matched to a specific transmission specification for optimised efficiency, the option of diesel power - the first time for a Toyota sedan in the volume passenger car market following on the introduction of the Auris hatch with diesel power in early August.
For those that prefer the convenience of an automatic shift transmission, Toyota's second generation Multi-Mode Manual Transmission (M-MT) is offered on the Corolla 1.6 Advanced derivative. A 4-speed fully automatic transmission is offered as an option on the Corolla 1.8 Exclusive.
Three specification grades are offered with the 'Professional' and 'Advanced' grades applicable to the 1,4 litre and 1,6 litre capacity derivatives and 'Advanced' and 'Exclusive' grades offered together with 1,8 litre petrol and 2,0 litre diesel models. This provides a total of ten distinct models to choose from.
Air conditioning
All models are fitted with air-conditioning - a manual system on the 'Professional' and 'Advanced' grades and an automatic system on the 'Exclusive' grade.
A newly developed high-efficiency ventilation and air-conditioning system is featured in the Corolla. The system has been designed to work efficiently at low speeds where vehicle ventilation systems are often compromised and least effective.
The system itself is both compact and lightweight and benefits from the adoption of a variable compressor for optimum cooling capacity with reduced energy consumption.
Integrated audio system
The audio system is neatly integrated into the centre console of the Corolla. At the 'Professional' grade the audio system comprises of a RDS Radio/CD combination with six speakers and MP3 compatibility. On the 'Advanced' and 'Exclusive' grades a RDS Radio/CD combination with 6-CD changer and MP3 compatibility is fitted.
Optitron instrumentation
All Corolla models are equipped with Toyota?s high-tech Optitron instrument system. The instrument panel is lit in amber with red pointers. Liquid crystal displays are used to show data such as fuel level and water temperature. Where the Multi-Mode Manual Transmission and the full automatic transmissions are specified, the gear selection is also indicated.
A multi-function display is fitted to all derivatives and is featured in the main instrument display. Information available includes: Time (clock); outside temperature; average speed; average fuel consumption.
Cabin storage
A total of 15 storage points are located around the interior of the Corolla that together provide safe and easy to hand stowage for typical family items and oddments.
These include: A main glove box in the traditional lower dashboard location on the passenger side and second one with an internal shelf on the upper section of the dashboard on the passenger side; a drop-down holder for sunglasses, a selection of cupholders; generously proportioned door side pockets; and centre console storage.
Driver's smart entry and start
The Corolla 1.8 Exclusive and the Corolla 2.0D-4D Exclusive models are equipped with a 'Smart Entry and Start' system. This detects the presence of the vehicle 'key' within a range of about 1m from the vehicle and enables automatic unlocking of the driver?s door and engine start up without inserting a key.
When the driver (carrying the key) touches the door handle a sensor automatically releases the door locks. Once inside, the vehicle can be started by simply pressing the 'Start' button on the dashboard.
All other models are equipped with remote central locking. A security function re-locks the doors if the key is not inserted in the ignition lock within 30 seconds of the doors being unlocked.
The Corolla 'Professional' 1.4 and 1.6 models include the following specification items:
The 'Advanced' grade available on the Corolla 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0D-4D models adds the following to the above specification:
The top-of-the-range 'Exclusive' grade is available on the Corolla 1.8 and 2.0D-4D derivatives and adds the following specification items:
The full new Corolla range is:
Service intervals are 15 000 Km. A 5yr/90 000km service plan is included in the price.
