Toyota South Africa introduced the 12th-generation Corolla in March 2020.The twelfth-generation Corolla was originally unveiled under the Auris name. Toyota decided to drop the nameplate and return to using the Corolla name for all models. The Auris name was retained for the Taiwanese market.
A Familiar but New Appearance
The new generation Corolla continued down the path that the eleventh-gen model had set. It had a more angular, hard-edged appearance. This somewhat aggressive, yet modern design brought the Corolla up to date with its competition.
Like previous generations, the Corolla was offered as a hatchback. It is now under the Corolla name. Additionally a station wagon/estate, and a sedan is now being offered. The Chinese and European markets received a sedan model known as the Prestige. It was given a new front end that was more in line with that of the Camry. Prestige models are also available in Taiwan and Southeast Asian markets under the Corolla Altis name.
Another variation of the sedan was the Corolla Sporty. This model features the front-end from the hatchback and station wagon versions of the Corolla. The Sporty is available in various different markets, including North America, Japan, Australia and more.
More Power Options
One of the problems that put many potential buyers off the previous generation Corolla was the lack of more powerful engine options. With this in mind, Toyota decided to expand the power units on offer for the twelfth-generation Corolla.
A new 2.0-litre M20A hybrid powertrain with nearly 180 horsepower was introduced to try and persuade these potential customers. For those who don’t need so much power, Toyota continues to offer the 1.8-litre 2ZR hybrid powertrain and several standard petrol engines ranging from 1.2 – 1.8-litres in size.
Depending on what powertrain option is selected, buyers have the choice of a 6-speed manual, 7-speed CVT, a 7/8-speed Super CVT-i or an eCVT transmission.
A More Luxurious Interior
While the eleventh-gen car’s interior was considered to be excellent for its price point, Toyota needed to do more to stay ahead of the competition. They introduced more features and redesigned the interior to be more futuristic and angular, so that it would match the excellent new exterior.
New Performance Options
With a renewed interest in performance models, Toyota is looking to introduce more powerful offerings into the Corolla lineup.
The most anticipated of these is the Toyota GR Corolla. This turbocharged hot hatch is hopefully going to be available for the 2022 model year, however, the Coronavirus pandemic may push that timeline out further.
The GR Corolla is reported to be able to make as much as 257 horsepower and 360 Nm (266 lb ft) of torque from its turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, a massive increase over the most powerful Corolla currently available. Along with the engine upgrades, the GR will also feature a stiffer suspension setup, more powerful brakes, and a custom bodykit.
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-corolla
