Global Corolla Sedan Reborn: First Impression of Toyota’s Daring New Design

The Toyota Corolla has long enjoyed a reputation for reliability and sales success. As one of the best-selling cars on the planet, Corolla gets a fair amount of attention every time one shows up for a redesign. The current generation, the twelfth, has been in existence since 2018; even with updates, the overall design was starting to feel tired.

This time is going to be different - over the weekend, a design that seems to be the thirteenth generation Corolla emerged in regulatory filings. The redesign looks to take significant creative risks to one of the best-selling sedans in the world.

A New Look Informed by a Family Resemblance

The images of the “Corolla Allion” from China provide insight into how Toyota's newest design language is being involved. If you have seen the recent redesigns of Prius or Camry, you will see that said resemblance doesn't take long. The overall shape is similar but much more aggressive and modern.

Notable Changes to the Exterior

• Split Headlights
  Besides the new modern and cool look with C-shaped LED outline and thin light strip right at the top of the headlight, the main headlights are much lower on the bumper making for a distinctive profile on the Corolla.
  
  

• Modern Front Face
  There is a dark horizontal grille, and it also has a really bold front spoiler giving the Corolla a bolder road presence than ever before.
  
  

• Connected Taillights
  Now the taillights are connected and have an entirely new illuminated tail light strip. With the old blue hybrid badge being replaced by a much darker trim color, the trunk does look quite a bit streamlined.
  
  

• Wheel Designs
  There may be some minor changes to their prospective wheel designs that keep the side profile fresh while keeping the existing silhouette.

Under the Hood: Tried and True

Toyota is also clever in the engine department. The company rallies around reliability and fuel consumption - they are usually going to stay faithful to what works. Since the information/leaked details are on what is considered the China market, there could be a chance that timing to the US market could also come with some of the revisions.

• 1.8L Hybrid
  The hybrid will be rated around 98 horsepower mixed, which is decent for an efficiency model.
  
  

• 2.0L Gasoline
  The gasoline option will be rated around 170 horsepower for those who simply rely on reversion to gas over electricity.
  
  

• Transmissions
  It will also be offered in either CVT or 10-speed automatic with automatic front-wheel driving.

To sum this up, this is an example of refining existing technology rather than trying to reinvent it. Consumers can expect the same solid products they have always known and trusted - providing drivers with a great economy of vehicle with great reliability.

Possible Implications for the USA Car Buyer

The leaks are based on the China “Corolla Allion"; however, it is still a leakage of where the American car driver might eventually end up. It typically gets two releases of the Corollas - one formalized (like the Allion) but a cool version (like the car the USA gets). So it is conceivable whatever happens would work based on this incrementation of the period that accompanies it.

For the USA buyer, the redesign should keep the Corolla competitive for the space. They will have modern styling and the same old engines that they already had a family share to them. Schedule to see some news for the American market to be official in the fall of 2023 or early 2026.