A NEW ERA
“Our primary goal with the new Corolla was to create the most bold and dynamic hatchback on the market, without compromising on interior usability”. The words of Simon Humphries, Executive General Manager of Toyota Global Design, tell the story of the goal of designers and engineers in the creation of the new generation Toyota Corolla. “Harnessing the low centre of gravity afforded by the TNGA layout, the vehicle is light and agile in the side view, yet as we move to the rear, the architecture transforms to create a solid, wide and low stance that is absolutely critical to the European market”.
The new Corolla adopts a significantly more sporting, dynamic and distinctive design with more striking frontal styling. Overall length has increased by 40 mm, all of which has been absorbed within a longer wheelbase for better safety and improved design. Importantly, the overall height of the new hatchback has been reduced by some 25 mm, whilst the cowl height of the vehicle is a significant 47 mm lower. The result is a sleeker shape and a more attractive, lower bonnet, which in turn improves safety by giving the driver a clearer forward view.
The new frontal styling is a further evolution of Toyota’s Under Priority Catamaran and Keen Look design philosophies. Beneath the curved front edge of a flatter, clamshell bonnet, the narrow upper grille incorporates new, all-LED headlamp clusters with integral Daytime Running Lights (DRL). The surround to the large, trapezoidal lower grille projects powerfully forward. It is less pointed and more vertical than before, resulting in a reduction to the vehicle’s front overhang of some 20 mm. The new rear design is more rounded than before, strengthening the visual relationship between the front and rear of the vehicle. The tailgate is constructed in resin to both make possible the design’s complex curvature, and save weight.
According to the manufacturer, the new Corolla features a completely new interior designed to create a modern and cohesive environment where new textures, colours and finishes combine to offer high levels of visual and tactile quality. The dashboard is dominated by the 10-inch infotainment display, while an 8-inch screen is located in the center of the instrument panel. The rear seats have also been revised, with a new seat cushion material for a more even distribution of occupant weight over the cushion area. The rear seats can be lowered by operating a remote lever for a fully flat load compartment.
