A new Toyota Corolla is a major event, possibly even out of context with the actual role and positioning of the car in the market, but when the manufacturer has sold the volumes it has, and expects to, it is not hard to understand why.
With more than 40-million Corollas sold worldwide since the first generation was launched in 1966 – of which 974 940 have been sold in South Africa – the numbers show something like two Corollas sold every minute somewhere in the world.
The new, 11th generation model has already received considerable attention because of the different nose designs for the American and European markets – South Africa getting the Euro version when the car is launched in the first quarter of 2014.
Final specification versions of the cars (which will be manufactured locally at Toyota’s Prospecton plant near Durban) will be shown for the first time at the Johannesburg International Motor Show in October.
The European launch of the cars took place in Mallorca, Spain recently and I had the opportunity to drive three of the four derivatives that will be available in South Africa. Local variants will be a 1,3-litre petrol, 1,4-litre D4-D diesel, 1,6-litre petrol and 1,8-litre petrol. All the petrol models feature the VVT-i engines (there are Valvematic engines for some markets) and the 1.6 and 1.8 will be available with either a six-speed manual gearbox or Multidrive S automatic.
The Multidrive S is a seven-speed CVT gearbox with Eco, Sport or manual modes.
The 11th generation Corolla features an all-new exterior design. Highlighting the longer wheelbase and reduced overall height, the design combines clean lines and balanced proportions to give the new Corolla a more sophisticated look with a prestigious and contemporary image.
At 4 620 mm long, 1 775 mm wide and 1 465 mm high, the new Toyota is 80 mm longer and 15 mm wider, yet 5 mm lower, than its predecessor. The rear overhang has been reduced by 25 mm, the front overhang increased by 5 mm and the wheelbase extended by a substantial 100 mm.
The new Corolla features an evolution of Toyota’s new design language. The ‘Keen Look’ and ‘Under Priority’ design principles have been rebalanced, with the emphasis now placed on the upper grille for a distinctive appearance. The chrome-plated horizontal trim bars of the upper grille are visually extended into narrower, more expressive headlamp clusters to emphasise the width of the vehicle.
Equipped with a halogen low beam lamp for improved visibility, the new headlamps now incorporate 4-LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), while the two uppermost bars of the upper grille and the headlamp clusters extend along the curve of the low bonnet lip deep into the front fenders.
The vehicle’s profile is further enhanced by a character line linking the top of the front wheel arch and the rear lamp cluster, and a choice of 15” and 16” wheel designs.
To the rear, the trapezoidal form of Toyota’s ‘Under Priority’ design language is mirrored by the license plate recession extremities and lower bumper styling. The line of the boot lip is underscored by wide new rear lamp clusters connected by a chrome license plate trim for a cleaner appearance.
Based on advanced Formula 1 technology aero stabilising fins located on the door mirrors and rear combination lamps, accelerate the airflow along the body, enhancing vehicle stability and control.
Vehicle aerodynamics are substantially improved through the adoption of a front spoiler and numerous covers designed to create a flat underbody, optimising the flow of air beneath the new Corolla. They include a full engine undercover, front suspension member covers, front and rear wheel spats, floor undercovers, a fuel tank side undercover, and a rear floor undercover incorporating sakana aero-stabilising fins to enhance high-speed stability.
In combination, the comprehensive measures have achieved a significant improvement in aerodynamic efficiency, and the new Corolla’s drag coefficient has been reduced from Cd 0,29 to just Cd 0,27.
Benefitting from a 100 mm increase in wheelbase length from 2 600 mm to 2 700 mm, the all-new, interior design offers a more spacious and comfortable cabin including a substantial increase in rear seat legroom, more comfortable seats and a greater boot capacity.
The driving position has been comprehensively revised. The seat height adjustment range has been extended by 15 mm to 60 mm, and the slide adjustment range expanded by 20 mm to 260 mm. The front seat hip point has been moved forward by 5 mm. Despite a 25 mm reduction in the new Corolla’s rear overhang, the boot capacity has also increased to 452 litres.
One of the criticisms of past Corollas in the past has been lack of ‘soft touch’ dashboard material and this has now been addressed on the completely redesigned fascia. Topped by a soft, non-reflective upper surface which flows seamlessly over the driver’s instrument binnacle, the dashboard face combines convex, soft-touch padding with a concave centre console panel finished in piano black.
The soft instrument panel upholstery and high-gloss piano black finishes are complimented by silver trim detailing and clear blue instrument, glove box and ambient cabin lighting. Specification and trim packages for the local versions have not yet been finalised.
Of the three variants I drove at the launch, the pick of the bunch was the new 1-,4-litre diesel in manual format.
The Euro 5+ compliant 1,4-litre D-4D engine develops 66 kW and maximum torque of 205 Nm at only 1 800 r/min. Available with Stop & Start technology the turbo-diesel unit also benefits from improved Toyota Optimal Drive technology, maximising performance and driveability whilst minimising fuel consumption, and CO2 and particulate emissions.
Piezoelectric injectors control the fuel volume and the timing of the injection more accurately. The high-speed reaction time of Piezo injectors makes multi-phase high-speed injection possible. This has the effect of both lowering the rate of combustion expansion and effecting a more thorough burn within the combustion chamber, thus further reducing particulate, NOx and CO2 emissions.
The 1.4 D-4D unit returns a claimed combined cycle fuel consumption of 3,8 l/100 km and generates CO2 emissions of only 99 g/km.
Bearing in mind the entire Corolla range is intended as a family commuter and comes with no sporting pretensions, the sheer tractability of the small capacity turbo-diesel was impressive, meaning it will feel much the same at altitude.
Competing in the C-segment against the likes of Chev Cruze, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Jetta, the Corolla is the only one offering a high output, small capacity diesel engine – VW having a 1,6-litre and 2,0-litre option.
The new Corolla further benefits from a lighter, yet more rigid body structure, revised suspension and a more direct steering response. It shares the proven front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension systems of its predecessor but significant revisions to both front and rear systems improve ride comfort.
A newly developed front strut features a larger, 35 mm diameter shock absorber cylinder, with damping force tuned to optimise stability and ride comfort. At the rear, a reduced spring rate and retuned dampers further improve ride comfort, stability and response to steering inputs.
From the driver’s seat, the rake of the new windscreen offers excellent visibility, both directly ahead and well to the side – a good thing in high season on the sunny island of Mallorca, infested in holiday season with lobster-coloured British holidaymakers and cyclists.
With all its torque available from very low revs, the 1.4 is really easy to work with in traffic or negotiating impossibly narrow village streets – with nigh instant acceleration response when required. On more open roads it burbles along in top gear, defying gradients and flipping the bird at fuel stations.
Given a bit of right foot, it responds eagerly and will top out around the 180 km/h mark – accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 12,5 seconds.
The revised body stiffness and extended wheelbase are positives when the car is pushed hard through sweeps and tight corners – the Corolla responding with minimal body roll and extremely neutral handling until a touch of ‘push’ is noticeable getting closer to the limit.
On this score it does do better than the 1,8-litre petrol – the heavier engine helping to induce understeer at little earlier in the game, although this never became a problem.
Staying with the 1.8, I drove the Multidrive S and, while never a lover of CVT gearboxes, have to admit this is better than many others are. There is still that irritating high revving when accelerating until the driver gets used to working with a CVT and totally adjusts driving style to suit. This is particularly noticeable in Eco mode and Sport brings about an improvement, with manual the way to go for brisk driving.
The 1.8 replaces the 2.0-litre in the current generation Corolla in South Africa and this new engine develops 103 kW at 6 400 r/min and a maximum torque of 173 Nm at 4 000 r/min. Equipped with the Multidrive S transmission, the unit returns a claimed combined cycle fuel consumption of 6,4 l/100 km and generates CO2 emissions of 152 g/km.
Driving the 1.6-litre version with the Multidrive S transmission on the same route as the 1.8 was interesting in that the performance difference between the two engine sizes was barely noticeable – accepting, of course, this was at sea level. However, even at the power-sapping Reef altitude I do not expect much to change when the local versions are released. Of the petrol models, the 1.6 is definitely the choice with a nice balance between power and handling.
The 1.6 litre Dual VVT-i petrol engine develops 90 kW and a maximum torque of 154 Nm at 5 200 r/min. When equipped with the manual transmission the unit returns a combined cycle fuel consumption of 6,6 l/100 km and generates CO2 emissions of 157 g/km. The new CVT transmission further reduces both fuel consumption and emissions, to 6,3 l/100 km and 150 g/km respectively.
The 1.3-litre version for the South African market will be largely aimed at fleet buyers and was not available for us to drive at the launch.
The new Corolla’s servo assisted anti-lock braking system (standard on all models) features new, 277 mm ventilated front discs and 270 mm solid rear discs. The front brake pads have been upgraded to combine more effective performance with a reduction in NVH under operation.
Local models will also have at least two air bags as standard across the range and for most engine capacities buyers will have a choice of at least two levels of specification.
