Toyota has just reveled early hints of the next major design change for the global version of its popular Corolla sedan when it unveiled the Japan version of the 11th generation of the world’s all-time best seller. Toyota hasn’t said when the redesigned Corolla will be launched. But the car is expected to get more than a freshening this year and a full redesign by 2014. The Japan-market version, which went on sale on May 11 2012, is smaller, lighter and more fuel-efficient than its predecessor.
The Japanese variant differs in size and performance from the overseas sibling sold with the Corolla nameplate globally. The two cars even get separate chief engineers. Hiroya Fujita, chief engineer for both the 11th-generation Corolla, as well as the 10th generation that appeared in 2006, says the global version being worked on is wider and longer.
In Japan, the sedan version is sold as the Corolla Axio, while a wagon version goes by the name Corolla Fielder (pictured below).
Since the nameplate’s debut in 1966, Toyota has notched worldwide Corolla sales of more than 39 million units. That puts it ahead of the No. 2 best-seller, the Volkswagen Beetle. VW, before phasing out production in Mexico in 2003, built 21.5 million Beetles, topping the previous No. 1, the Ford Model T, which had cumulative global sales of 15.0 million. In terms of design, the new Corolla retains its plain utilitarian econobox packaging.
The front end is more rounded, and the A-pillars are pulled back to create a curved windshield for better visibility. The side mirrors extend farther from the body for the same reason. The rear quarter panel gets an S-shaped creased edge to improve the flow of air and, according to Toyota, to give the car a more upscale feel. The car is 2 inches shorter than the outgoing model for Japan, but creative packaging ekes out 1.6 inches of extra knee space in the rear seats.
The car weighs 110 pounds less than the previous version, helping to boost fuel economy. Toyota offers the sedan with a new 1.3-liter engine or an improved 1.5-liter engine. In Japan, six airbags come standard, including side airbags and curtain shields. All grades also get standard vehicle stability control and traction control. The car is being built at Toyota’s Miyagi factory in northern Japan.
