Teed Up For Success – The New Toyota Corolla

KEY POINTS

• The new Corolla range to be launched on 2 January 2002
• Ninth generation model of the world’s best selling car ever – 29 million units sold – Corolla accounts for almost 20 per cent of total Toyota sales world-wide
• Four bodystyles available from launch – three and five-door hatchbacks, Verso MPV and estate with saloon completing the range in summer 2002
• Three and five-door hatchback models built in the UK at Burnaston plant, (saloon to be built in new plant in Turkey with Verso and estate built in Japan)
• Available in four grades – T2, T3, T Spirit and T Sport
• Space and versatility among class-leaders
• New seat design – more comfortable than before as a result of intensive R&D analysis on seat weight distribution
• Priced from £10,795 for T2 1.4-litre three-door up to £16,995 for T Spirit Verso (Auto)
• Available with a wide choice of four petrol and two diesel engines including high performance T Sport derivative with 189bhp VVTL- i engine
• Verso compact MPV features rear seats that can be folded, tumbled, slid up to 150mm or removed
• Verso has a maximum load capacity (with rear seats removed) of 973 litres with a further 56 litres available from a total of 22 different storage areas around the car
• Leather upholstery as an option on T Spirit hatchback and T Sport models
• Repair costs for frontal damage in low speed crash have been cut by around
• 50 per cent over outgoing model
• Electric power steering fitted as standard provides optimum assistance at low speeds and greater feel at higher speeds
• Optional turn-by-turn satellite navigation with Electronic Traffic Avoidance (ETA) providing advance information of traffic congestion, accidents and closed roads on a programmed route
• DVD based satellite navigation with full map display available as an option on T3,
• T Spirit and T Sport grades
• Driver’s, front passenger and front side airbags fitted as standard on all grades
• ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) fitted as standard across the range
• Three year / 60,000 miles warranty, three year paintwork and 12 year anti-perforation warranty

SHORT STORY

The new Corolla is so much better than the model it replaces you would be forgiven for thinking it has benefitted from a make over by the automotive equivalent of Ground Force and Home Front. Park your prejudice and accept that Golf is no longer the only game in town.

Corolla will be available in four bodystyles from launch. These include a new Corolla Verso in the fast growing compact MPV segment; mainstream hatchbacks in three and five-door styles and a roomy and practical estate.

The striking new design sets the new car apart from the crowd and will attract a fresh customer base. New Corolla is among the most spacious cars in the segment, with an interior that is longer, wider and higher than many of its rivals from other European manufacturers.

Quality, always a hallmark of Corolla models, is even higher than before. The dashboard and interior trim have been designed to set a new benchmark for the segment in terms of touch and feel quality, adding a new notion of prestige to the family hatchback sector.

The modern engine range ensures excellent performance and fuel economy with low emissions, and thanks to the all-new chassis, handling, comfort and interior space are on an equally high level, offering genuine driving pleasure.

Engine choice is equally extensive, with two economical 2.0-litre common-rail diesel engines and a selection of four petrol engines, ranging from a 1.4 to a 1.6 and a 1.8-litre version (Verso only), all with VVT-i. Topping the range is a highly tuned 1.8-litre with VVTL-i, a 189bhp T Sport Version that features VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), traction control and brake assist and a six-speed manual gearbox.

New Corolla innovates in many ways, not least by offering equipment that was previously only found in executive saloons, like Optitron instrumentation and satellite navigation (optional turn-by-turn or full map DVD based systems).

Hi-Tech Powertrains

The qualities of the new Corolla chassis are brought to life thanks to the revised engine range, which is certainly one of Corolla’s biggest advantages over its competitors. This new
Toyota brings to Europe the most advanced engine selection you can find in the lower medium segment car today, from the frugal 2.0 D-4D to the breath-taking 1.8 VVTL-i in the T Sport.

The two most popular units, the 1.4 and 1.6 VVT-i, jointly addressing 80 per cent of the demand of the petrol markets, boast top class characteristics and meet European Step 4 emission regulations.

The 1.4-litre VVT-i engine has an output of 97bhp with a maximum torque of 130Nm at 4,400rpm. It accelerates the three-door hatchback from 0 to 62mph in just 12 seconds with a combined fuel consumption of 42.1mpg.

The 1.6-litre VVT-i delivers 110bhp with a maximum torque of 150Nm at 4,800rpm. Hatchback acceleration from 0 to 62mph is 10.2 seconds (11.4 for Verso) and the fuel consumption on the combined cycle for the Hatchback is 40.3mpg.

The 1.8-litre VVT-i is developed for the new Corolla Verso to produce 133bhp and maximum torque of 170Nm at 4,200rpm. This adds a sporty characteristic to Corolla Verso with a top speed of 115mph and acceleration to 62mph in 10.3 seconds. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is 37.1mpg.

Compared with the current model, the diesel offer becomes richer thanks to the addition in the line up of the 2.0-litre 16-valve common-rail D-4D with intercooler, delivering 109bhp. This engine, available only in the hatchback models, benefits from Toyota common-rail technology in the areas of durability and noise levels, already known in the 89bhp version introduced in the current Corolla in September 2000.

FOUR BODYSTYLES AVAILABLE FROM LAUNCH

The new Corolla will be available in the UK from launch in a range of four bodystyles to offer customers the widest possible choice as its new range is among the widest in the lower medium segment.

Toyota (GB) PLC expects to sell around 30,000 new Corollas during 2002, 7,000 of these being the new Verso model with the British built three and five-door hatchbacks accounting for a large proportion of the annual sales mix. The outgoing Corolla sold on average 18,000 units per year.

The Mainstream Hatchback

At the heart of the lower-medium family car segment are hatchback buyers. The new Toyota Corolla will offer both three-door and five-door hatchbacks from launch as the core models in the range. The three-door will account for roughly 20% of sales mix, with the five-door the most popular seller at roughly 55% of sales mix.

The new Corolla platform has resulted in increased wheelbase (+135mm), increased vehicle height (+90mm) and increased width (+20mm) over the outgoing model. The new Corolla’s compact and tall body allows the optimisation of interior space without sacrificing its naturally sporty design.

The Corolla T Sport

The 3-door hatchback forms the basis for the most exciting and powerful Corolla ever launched into mainstream production – the new Corolla T Sport. The Corolla will be the third model to carry the T Sport badge which signals Toyota’s commitment to deliver consistently outstanding driving pleasure through the different models of its line up.

The Corolla T Sport is powered by the 1.8-litre VVTL-i (Variable valve Timing and Lift – intelligent) 189bhp engine with six-speed manual gearbox that was first used in the Celica 190. It delivers the type of power that will allow the enthusiastic driver to fully exploit the potential of the new Corolla’s chassis and suspension.

Along with the more powerful engine, the new Corolla T Sport also has uprated suspension, brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels, unique interior treatment with red Optitron instrumentation, race-like carbon-fibre trims and high supportive sports seats.

The Dynamic Estate

The estate version of the new Corolla will offer a practical and stylish solution for fashion conscious customers who appreciate the traditional sporty nature of this bodystyle.

The slightly longer exterior dimensions (4,385mm) of the Corolla estate create more rear overhang for extra load carrying while retaining the dynamic looks of the hatchback. Practicality is enhanced by the split (60/40) rear seat which can fold or tumble to create a completely flat load area. Maximum storage capacity is an outstanding 975 litres. Even with the rear seats up, the Corolla estate will swallow 402 litres of luggage.

The Versatile Verso

The new line-up includes a compact MPV, the Corolla Verso, which builds on the established Verso family to give Toyota the most comprehensive MPV range in the European market. This range includes the Yaris Verso, the recently launched Avensis Verso and the Previa. Corolla Verso will account for approximately 23 per cent of total Corolla sales mix.

Verso is an intelligent and versatile proposal for a compact MPV. It can seat five people in maximum space and comfort, with a very convincing luggage area.

The rear seat can be tumbled, reclined or even detached by a 60:40 split. It can slide backwards or forwards by 150mm to provide more rear legroom or more luggage room.

Special attention was also paid to the youngest passengers. The Verso is equipped as standard with two junior seats on the rear seat and also preparation mountings to allow the installation of two ISO-FIX child seats. The centre back of the rear seat can be reclined to serve as an armrest with two cup holders.

Maximum cargo space is an outstanding 973 litres with the rear seat removed and the maximum load length is 1,640mm. Even with all the seats in place the Corolla Verso can hold 417 litres of luggage – more than enough for all the family.

Premium Equipment Levels

New Corolla has an impressive list of standard equipment when compared with its competitors. Even the T2 grade has driver’s, front passenger and front side airbags, ABS

with EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution), remote central locking with double locking, electric front windows with anti-trap, single CD player and colour keyed mirrors and bumpers.

Moving up the range to the T3 grade, specification is even more impressive with
15″ alloy wheels, air conditioning, front fog lamps and colour keyed side mouldings offered as standard.

The T Spirit grade has a leather steering wheel with audio controls, heated mirrors, electric tilt/slide sun roof (Verso T Spirit grade has twin sunroofs – manual front, electric rear), electric rear windows, automatic air conditioning and Optitron instruments.

New Accessory Range Available From Launch

A full range of accessories has been developed for customers to personalise their new Corolla. The accessory range, known as Collections, consists of four specific packs. These include a Sound Collection comprising of a subwoofer, front tweeters and in dash six CD changer for £745.95 including VAT. Sound Collection is not available on Verso models.

The Style Collection comprises Aero front skirt and rear spoiler, rear chrome garnish trim and chrome exhaust finisher and is priced at £650 including VAT. Style Collection is available on three and five-door hatchback models only and is fitted at the new car distribution depot.

The Cargo Collection comprises: Boot liner, seat back storage bag and cargo nets for protection from loose items of luggage. This pack is available for £150.95 including VAT.

Lastly, City Collection is available to help parking in awkward spaces. City Collection, comprising of parking sensors and bumper corner protectors is available, depending on body style, from £285.95 including VAT.

Miss the Traffic Every Time – A Toyota First in the UK

Available as an option across the Corolla range from launch will be Toyota’s new Electronic Traffic Avoidance System (ETA) that works in conjunction with the Toyota Turn-by-Turn satellite navigation system. Toyota is the first in the UK to offer this innovative dynamic navigation system.

ETA provides the driver with live traffic information which is fed into the navigation system enabling the car to not only warn the driver of a traffic problem, but also to plot a way around jams or snarl ups even if the driver is a stranger to the area.

Easy To Use

ETA receives coded traffic information 24 hours per day via an FM radio signal that is picked up even when the car radio is switched off. ETA decodes the messages – originating from various traffic monitoring services, including the Police, to give the driver advanced warning of incidents and congestion.

If the driver is following a route using the car’s satellite navigation system, ETA will automatically offer an ‘avoid traffic’ option and work out a new route around the traffic.

If the driver is not using the satellite navigation when the traffic warning is received, simply plotting a destination into the navigation system will trigger the ‘avoid traffic’ function and enable stress free re-routing around the problem before the driver encounters.

Genuinely Useful

ETA will benefit customers in a number of ways, not least time saved, reduced stress and no petrol wasted sitting in traffic jams. A further benefit is that the system requires no additional handsets or annual subscription fees.

COROLLA PRICING

Pricing for the new Corolla will be as follows:

TOYOTA COROLLA AND COROLLA VERSO TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

ENDS