With the introduction of the sixth-generation car in 1987, Toyota wanted the Corolla to be more than just a family runabout. Akihiko Saito, the lead design engineer, and his team focused on three main areas, performance, quality and style.
The design team created over 2,000 development proposals and worked with more than 100 other part manufacturers to create a design that would bring a new level of quality to the Corolla name.
More Engine options
When the fifth-generation Corolla launched it was offered with one of the biggest range of engine options of any car on the market. The 1.3-litre 2E engine was the base-spec power unit, followed by the brand new 1.5-litre 5A range of engines that came with either fuel injection or with a carburettor. A 1.5-litre E3 engine was only available on the van version of the Corolla.
For those who wanted a bit more power and performance, Toyota offered two 1.6-litre 4A engines that could come either naturally aspirated or with a supercharger. The last engine option was a revised version of the 1.8-litre 1C power unit from the fifth-generation car.
A double overhead cam and four-valve-per-cylinder design was utilised on four of the seven engine options to improve performance.
A new system known as High-Mecha Twin Cam was also introduced for some engine options (1.5-litre units), which offered superior performance. On standard DOHC engines a timing belt is used to drive both camshafts. On High-Mecha Twin Cam engines one camshaft is driven by a timing belt while the other is moved by a scissor gear.
In the second half of 1987 a 1.6-litre version of the High-Mecha engine was introduced. However, this engine option was only available for four-wheel drive models.
The last series of engine upgrades were introduced in May 1989 with all A-series engines being converted to fuel injection. A 2.0-litre 2C diesel engine was also added to the four-wheel drive lineup to boost sales in colder climates.
No More Rear-Wheel Drive
For the first time in the Toyota Corolla’s history there was no rear-wheel drive option available. Toyota did offer four-wheel drive sedan and estate versions of the car, but the 4WD system in these vehicles was based on the front-wheel drive layout.
Improvements to the Chassis & Handling
With the introduction of the new sporty range of engines, Toyota needed to redevelop and refine the suspension & chassis setup. The strut-type suspension system was retained for the sixth-gen car, but the shock absorbers, geometry and other suspension components were all updated to improve ride comfort ad handling performance.
Toyota also equipped their higher-end Corolla models with their Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension (TEMS) system. This new system could electronically alter the damping force between ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ based on the driver’s preference and the driving conditions.
To increase braking performance it was decided that all models would be given front disc brakes, while higher end models were kitted put with ventilated discs. Additionally, a brake booster was included to generate greater braking performance with a lighter application of the pedal.
A More Rounded Appearance
The straight lines of previous generation models were gone, and the new Corolla featured a more rounded off appearance. Toyota also designed the sixth-gen car to be lower and wider, with a more proportional body.
Reducing road noise was a major focal point for the Toyota team, with many of the body components being designed to be more aerodynamic, so that they would transfer the minimum amount of unwanted noise.
Interesting, other sounds, such as the tone of the engine, were increased and enhanced to improve the car’s sporting credentials and feel.
Comfort for the Masses
A major focus on the inside of the car was to improve the comfort and feel of the interior. Greater efforts were made to ventilate the interior to improve air quality, and more adjustability was available for the seats and steering wheel.
Smashing Sales Records
Once again, the Corolla was at the top when it came to sales. In 1990, the Corolla range sold an incredible 308,000 units in Japan, a new record in annual sales for a brand. This record would stand for 20 years until the Toyota’s own Prius would beat it in 2010.
List of References
Rola, accessed 13 December 2023, https://www.rola.co.za/newsroom/86-the-toyota-corolla
Cars Blog,Car History:Toyota Corolla, accessed 13 December 2023, https://www.dubizzle.com/blog/cars/toyota-corolla-history
Autoweek:Here’s How Toyota Sold 50 Million Corollas In 55 Years, accessed 13 December 2023, https://www.autoweek.com/news/g37418790/how-toyota-sold-50-million-corollas/
Garage dreams: The complete history of Toyota Corolla, accessed 13 December 2023, https://garagedreams.net/history/the-complete-history-of-the-toyota-corollaEdit
