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Back to October 2012 Motorsports News Archive
| 23-10-2012 at 02:00: Eleventh Generation Corolla on Sale this Week | |
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Then, Australia was the first country to sell this model outside of Japan and in the past 45 years the Corolla has improved to be what it is today. The 11th generation is a great improvement over its predecessor and not just in styling. The Australian International Motor Show in Sydney was the first time this car has been seen in the southern hemisphere after first being seen in Japan and Europe. Although a very Japanese company, the new generation has had its fair share of influences from Europe. The Corolla has an edgier style and has a lower centre of gravity to help improve the on road performance. The exterior design is European-inspired and has long smooth lines and a pointed front given the sense of more agility then previous Corolla’s. The new front gives the Corolla a more powerful road presence and there is no mistaking this model from the old. The front is dominated by a large, trapezoidal lower grille that has become a feature of Toyota’s latest models, including Yaris and Prius. The bonnet sweeps down to a rather large Toyota badge which stands out with pride. Looking side on, the body is more defined and streamlined and although the roof is lower the cabin space has not been compromised. What helps to give the streamlined appearance is the ride height reduction which lessens the gaps between the body and wheels and the road. A fresh approach has been taking with the interior and Toyota concentrated on lighting, font, colour and the quality of the finish. The dash is more designed for the driver and the layout of switches reflects this. The steering wheel design is more ergonomic and gives a more engaging feel when seated behind the wheel. The electric power-steering is said to be more direct and give a greater feel and feedback. One of the best parts of the interior is the improved leg room for rear passengers. Although not much in total, the feel when sitting in the back is defiantly not so squishy. Toyota has also added more soundproofing to help reduce road noise. The new Corolla is to be powered by a revised 1.8-litre which develops three per cent more power while still retaining fuel efficiency. The torque of the engine is said to arrive earlier in the rev range to give it a sportier feel. As with almost all Toyota’s, the new Corolla was given a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. The new Corolla will be hitting the streets this week as it went on sale on Monday 22nd. Photos by Rudi Khoury |
The years have flown by for Toyota and the Corolla has passed 1.2 million sales in Australia since first coming here in November of 1966.
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