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All-new Corolla set for SA
Meet Toyota’s SA-bound next generation Corolla revealed this morning at China's Guangzhou motor show. Set for local launch early 2020, version 12 is the first Corolla sedan to be offered with hybrid powertrains — a 90kW 1.8-litre nicked from C-HR and Prius, and a new 130kW 2-litre version, but C-HR’s handy 1.2-litre turbo petrol is a likely starter in this market to finally take on the Hun toe to toe.
Aimed at young professionals 'who want more prestigious styling, space and comfort’, the newcomer's styling reflects upmarket ambitions in a 'firmly planted’ stance. More than 46 million Corollas have been sold worldwide since 1966 and two differently styled versions of the newcomer built on the TNGA platform will do duty, one mainly in the US and the other elsewhere and likely including SA.
Version twelve has grown 10mm in length to 4640mm and 5mm in width to 1780mm but it is 45mm lower at 1435mm on the existing 2.7m wheelbase. The cabin has also been reworked to offer either a seven or an eight-inch touchscreen and Corolla sedan will come with up to eight airbags and various other safety features including integrated active and pre-collision safety items the likes of adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert and auto high beam.
Update:
A subsequent Toyota South Africa release highlights Corolla sedan's 125kW 200Nm 2-litre Dynamic Force in-line four-pot incorporating Toyota's latest D-4S system for more efficient and complete combustion. Boasting high-pressure direct injection and low-pressure port fuel injection with VVT-iE intelligent variable valve-timing on the intake side and VVT-i on the exhaust, VVT-iE uses an electric motor instead of oil pressure to control the variable valve timing.
Update:
A subsequent Toyota South Africa release highlights Corolla sedan's 125kW 200Nm 2-litre Dynamic Force in-line four-pot incorporating Toyota's latest D-4S system for more efficient and complete combustion. Boasting high-pressure direct injection and low-pressure port fuel injection with VVT-iE intelligent variable valve-timing on the intake side and VVT-i on the exhaust, VVT-iE uses an electric motor instead of oil pressure to control the variable valve timing.
These technologies, together with a longer stroke, higher compression ratio and reduced internal friction, yield maximum thermal efficiency of 40 per cent - among the highest in the world for a passenger-car engine. A new six-speed intelligent manual gearbox offers downshift rev-matching control for smooth gear changes, while a new Dynamic-Shift CVT bring an innovative physical launch gear,10 sequential shift steps and a sport mode.
Advanced safety technologies will include Toyota's latest pre-collision system, active cruise control, lane trace assist, road-sign assist, automatic high beam, seven airbags and a reversing camera.