With the introduction of the Kaizen and efficient Toyota Production System, Toyota Corolla’s seventh generation debuted in 1992. The 7th generation was a better version than all the previous Toyota Corolla generations and provided more comfort and features. The petrol engine line-up remained the same except for the 1.6-litre engine which featured twin cam and sports twin cam producing 115 and 164 hp, respectively.
Moreover, a 2.0-litre diesel engine replaced the 1.8-litre one. The horizontal radiator grille and integrated front bumper complemented the sporty exterior of the high-class saloon. Projector fog lamps along with airbags were introduced in Toyota Corolla’s history in the 7th generation.
As Akihiko Saito’s sixth-gen Corolla had proven to be a major hit, he was put in charge of the design team for a second time.
More Powerful & Efficient
To enhance the Corolla’s performance and improve fuel efficiency a redeveloped version of the 2E engine was introduced. This new 1.3-litre engine was known as the 4E-FE and it featured a total of 4-valves per cylinder, fuel injection and a DOHC layout. The previous gen 2E power unit only had 3-valves per cylinder and carburettor fuelling.
With the updates made, power was increased from 74 to 87 brake horsepower and torque was raised to 111 Nm (82 lb ft) at 4,800 rom.
The 1.6-litre power unit was also revised with the updates increasing power to 113 hp at 6,000 rpm and 145 Nm (107 lb ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm. This meant that 1.6-litre equipped models could accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in just under 10 seconds and hit a maximum top speed of 195 km/h (121 mph).
Perhaps the most impressive feature of the new engines was their fuel efficiency. The 1.3-litre cars could hit 4.4 L/100 km (53.5 mpg) at a constant 90 km/h (56 mph) cruise, while 1.6-litre models could do 4.7 L/100 km (50 mpg).
In March 1993, a range topping 118 hp 1.8-litre engine known as the 7A-FE was introduced in some markets. Unfortunately, this engine only offered a slight boost in performance with the 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) time dropping to 9.5 seconds.
Suspension & Brake Changes
As the Corolla was now larger, Toyota had to redefine and redevelop the MacPherson strut suspension setup. They decided to fix the front suspension to the body in four places, while the rear was fixed in six places. Other changes included increased track widths at both the front and the rear, rear anti-roll bars on all models, and ventilated front brake discs as standard.
Greater Quality Control & Features
One of the biggest improvements of the new car was the greater adoption of galvanised steel for the body shell. This time almost 90% of the bodyshell was galvanised, a 50% increase over the previous gen model. The total number of externally body panels also decreased to give an overall cleaner appearance.
Another area of improvement was the body stiffness. Through the use of high-tensile steel, stiffer subframes and suspension mounting points, and more local strengthening measures, Toyota managed to greatly increase the Corolla’s chassis & body stiffness.
Unwanted road noise and vibrations were reduced by isolating all moving components from the body with damping mounts. Additionally, special foam was inserted in various parts of the body to help reduce unwanted resonance even further.
A Larger Interior
The interior was a major focal point for the design team. They aimed to produce the quietest interior in the Corolla’s class and increased overall passenger and luggage space. Toyota was able to achieve this as the overall size of the Corolla was increased.
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
