New Toyota Corolla Debuts In Japan

Toyota has recently given its Japanese market Corolla model a mid-lifecycle update. The facelifted Corolla now features a sportier exterior styling and is also the first Toyota to be equipped with Toyota's Safety Sense C package.

The Corolla model seen here is only available in Japan and is different from the ones sold in Europe, USA and other parts of Asia. In Japan, the Corolla is mostly used as a corporate fleet car, thus explains its conservative styling compared to other Corolla models sold elsewhere.

As before, the Corolla is available in two bodystyles - the Corolla Axio sedan and the Corolla Fielder wagon.

The 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle 2NR-FKE engine is also a new unit, and features VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent by Electric motor), a variation of the Dual VVT-iE technology first used in the Lexus LS.

When combined with other fuel-saving measures like idle start-stop system and a CVT automatic, it delivers a fuel economy of 23.4 km/litre (23.0 for the Corolla Fielder) when tested under Japanese regulations (which is different from the European regulations that is more commonly followed elsewhere), making it eligible for government subsidies and tax incentives for environmentally friendly cars.

There's also a hybrid variant, which uses a 1.5-litre 1NZ-FXE engine from the Prius c, available for both the Corolla Axio and Corolla Fielder.

Making its first debut in a production Toyota is the Toyota Safety Sense C package, an active safety system which uses a laser radar unit and a camera to provide the following features - Pre-collision System (PCS) for autonomous braking, Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and Automatic High Beam (AHB).

Prices start from 1.4 million Yen for the Corolla Axio and 1.6 million Yen for the Corolla Fielder.