Beijing 2016: Toyota Launches China-only, Plug-In Hybrid Variants of Corolla Altis

Toyota has announced today that it will be launching two plug-in hybrid variants of the Corolla Altis for the Chinese market in 2018.

The car that we all know as the Toyota Corolla Altis is sold in China under two nameplates – Corolla and Levin. They are both the same car with minor styling differences, each sold under a different Toyota joint venture company in China.

Like many car makers, Toyota has two local joint ventures. FAW-Toyota sells the Corolla while GAC-Toyota sells the Levin. Regular Corolla and Levin models are powered by either a 1.6-litre Dual VVT-I or 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i engine, both are paired to a CVT-type automatic transmission.

Last year, a 1.8-litre petrol-electric hybrid engine borrowed from the Prius was added to the list of engine options, for the Corolla Hybrid and Levin Hybrid (both are pictured here).

By 2018, a plug-in hybrid powertrain partially developed in China by Toyota Motor (Changshu) Auto Parts Co., Ltd. and Sinogy Toyota Automotive Energy System Co., Ltd. will join the line-up.

Toyota did not reveal any specifications for the upcoming Corolla and Levin Plug-in Hybrid but it’s very likely to be similar to the recently launched in the US Toyota Prius Prime, whose 1.8-litre petrol engine is complemented by an 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery, giving it an electric-only driving range of slightly more than 50 km.