By: IOL Motoring Staff
The world's best selling automotive nameplate is entering its 11th generation and the new sedan is set to hit South Africa's highways and byways in early 2014.
Last month it was revealed that our country would be receiving the more conservative European-spec Corolla, but no real information accompanied those first official pictures of the car.
Now the European division has revealed all the key facts and figures, along with a new set of photos portraying its evolutionary design.
STRETCHED AND SQUASHED
The new Corolla sits on a wheelbase that's been stretched by 100mm and overall the car is 80mm longer and 15mm wider than before, while it sits 5mm lower to the ground on either 15" or 16" rims.
The stretched dimensions, according to Toyota, result in a substantial 92mm increase in rear legroom as well as a larger boot, while an increased adjustment range for the seats and steering wheel will make it easier to get cushy behind the wheel.
In its quest to highlight the premium quality of the new sedan, Toyota has even gone as far as reducing the panel gaps between the fenders and doors by multiple millimetres.
In the business corner, Corolla keeps up with times with Toyota's range of touch-screen multimedia systems, operated via a 6.1-inch touch-screen. Even the standard versions offer text message display, while the more advanced Go system includes navigation with access to Google Places. Like its rivals, the Corolla offers the option of a semi-autonomous parking assistant.
FRUGAL NEW DIESEL
South African spec levels have yet to be officially confirmed but we have been told that the engine range will mostly mirror the line-up offered in Europe. This comprises 1.3-, 1.6- and 1.8-litre petrol engines as well as a 1.4-litre turbodiesel.
The oil-burning option is smaller and more efficient than the 2-litre unit it will replace in South Africa. Although its outputs are rather modest - 66kW and 205Nm from 1800rpm - its claimed combined fuel consumption figure is just 3.8 litres per 100km, equating to a CO2 emissions figure of 99g/km.
The petrol range starts with a 1.33-litre unit with 'intelligent' dual variable valve timing and a high compression ratio of 11.5:1. The engine's rated at 73kW and 128Nm at 3800rpm, and Toyota claims a consumption figure of 5.6 l/100km.
There are two versions of the 1.6-litre engine - a 90kW/154Nm unit with similar technology to the 1.3 and a 'Valvematic' version that adds lift and duration control to the inlet valve variable timing. The latter boasts 97kW and 160Nm and drinks 6.0 l/100km.
At the top of the pile is a new 1.8-litre motor that pushes 103kW at 6400rpm and 173Nm at 4000. This engine is fitted, as standard, with Toyota's new seven-speed Multidrive S automatic gearbox, which is available as an option on 1.6-litre versions. The latter, and the 1.3, come standard with a six-speed manual 'box.
BIG ON COMFORT
Greater on-road comfort is promised by revisions to the suspension system, which retains its familiar MacPherson strut (front) and torsion beam (rear) design.
As for the steering, engineers aimed for a more involving experience by lowering the steering angle and improving the rigidity of the system for a sharper steering response.
Like its long line of predecessors, the new Corolla will be built at Toyota's Prospecton plant near Durban, and it's also almost certain to form part of a European export contract.